Red Baron Squadron (Israel)

Last updated
Red Baron Squadron
טייסת הברון האדום
Red Baron Squadron Tag.svg
Logo of the Squadron
ActiveJanuary 28, 2019 – present
CountryFlag of Israel.svg  Israel
AllegianceFlag of the Israel Defense Forces.svg  Israel Defense Forces
BranchIsrael Air Force Flag.svg  Israeli Air Force
Type Training Squadron
RoleTraining German and Israeli operatives
Garrison/HQ Tel Nof Airbase
Aircraft flown
Trainer IAI Eitan

The Red Baron Squadron is a squadron in the Israeli Air Force , which operates " Eitan " type UAVs from the Tel Nof Airbase . The squadron was established on January 28, 2019 [1] as part of an agreement between the Israeli government, the aerospace industry and the German Army. [2] It is the only Israeli Air Force squadron without a numerical designation.

Contents

Roles

The squadron's role is to train Israeli and German pilots as operators of the Eitan UAV, until the end of the development of the UAV of the German Air Force (variant of the "Eitan"), and then to train them directly on the German UAV. [3] The value of the agreement between the countries is estimated at 900 million Euros, under which the German Air Force will lease seven UAVs for a period of nine years. [2] Five of the UAVs will be used for operational purposes and two more for training and training [2] [4] In addition to the lease agreement, a contract in the amount of 170 million euros was decided on for the use of the airport and airspace. [2]

Namesake

The squadron is named after Manfred von Richthofen , a German fighter pilot and fighter pilot during World War I. Manfred, who was identified with a red " Fokker Dr.I " three-wing plane, in addition to being Freiherr ("Free Lord"), he was nicknamed after the war as "The Red Baron". The name of the squadron was proposed by the Israeli side of the agreement, marking the legacy of the battle of the Red Baron. [4]

Honours

Colonel Jurgen Hefner awarding the Cross of Honor to the Squadron Commander Juergen Haffner awarding Oded Cohen the Bundeswehr Cross of Honour, 2020.jpg
Colonel Jürgen Hefner awarding the Cross of Honor to the Squadron Commander

In November 2020, Germany's military attaché in Israel, Colonel Jürgen Hefner, awarded the Cross of Honor to the first squadron commander, Lt. Col. Y (name kept secret). [5]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Israeli Air Force</span> Aerial service branch of the Israel Defense Forces

The Israeli Air Force operates as the aerial and space warfare branch of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF). It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence. As of April 2022, Aluf Tomer Bar has been serving as the Air Force commander.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IAI Kfir</span> Israeli multirole combat aircraft

The Israel Aircraft Industries Kfir is an Israeli all-weather multirole combat aircraft based on the French Dassault Mirage 5, with Israeli avionics and an Israeli-built version of the General Electric J79 turbojet engine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IAI Heron</span> Long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle

The IAI Heron (Machatz-1) is a medium-altitude long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) developed by the Malat (UAV) division of Israel Aerospace Industries. It is capable of Medium Altitude Long Endurance (MALE) operations of up to 52 hours' duration at up to 10.5 km (35,000 ft). It has demonstrated 52 hours of continuous flight, but the effective operational maximal flight duration is less, according to payload and flight profile. An advanced version, the Heron TP, is also known as the IAI Eitan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Huldai</span> Israeli politician

Ron Huldai is an Israeli politician and businessman who has been Mayor of Tel Aviv since 1998. Before taking office as mayor, Huldai served as a fighter pilot and commander in the Israeli Air Force. After leaving the Israel Defense Force as a brigadier general, he entered the business world and was later headmaster of the Herzliya Hebrew Gymnasium in Tel Aviv.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hatzor Airbase</span> Airbase in Hatzor, Israel

Hatzor Airbase, also titled Kanaf 4 is an Israeli Air Force (IAF) base, located in central Israel near kibbutz Hatzor after which it is named. However, there have been no fighter jets stationed there since 2021, only patrol aircraft, UAVs and defense missiles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ramat David Airbase</span> Air base in Israel

Ramat David Airbase is an Israeli Air Force (IAF) base located 20 km southeast of Haifa in the Northern District of Israel, close to kibbutz Ramat David in the Jezreel Valley. It is the northernmost IAF base in Israel with fighter jets, UAVs and helicopters based on it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tel Nof Airbase</span> Main base of the Israeli Air Force

Tel Nof Airbase, also known as Air Force Base 8, is the oldest and main base of the Israeli Air Force (IAF) located 5 km south of Rehovot, Israel. Tel Nof houses two strike fighter, two helicopter and a UAV squadron. Also located on the base are the Flight Test Center and several special units of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), among others Unit 669 and the Paratroopers Brigade training center and its headquarters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nevatim Airbase</span> Israeli Air Force base

Nevatim Airbase, also Air Force Base 28, is an Israeli Air Force (IAF) base, located 15 km east-southeast of Beersheba, near moshav Nevatim in the Negev desert. It is one of the largest in Israel and has three runways of different lengths. Stealth fighter jets, transport aircraft, tanker aircraft and machines for electronic reconnaissance/surveillance, as well as the Wing of Zion, are stationed there.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hatzerim Airbase</span> Israeli Air Force base

Hatzerim Airbase is an Israeli Air Force (IAF) base on the northern edge of the Negev desert in the Southern District of Israel, 6 km west of Beersheba, near kibbutz Hatzerim. Apart from operational fighter jets, it houses the IAF Flight Academy, the IAF Aerobatic Team and the IAF Museum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ovda Airbase</span> Israeli Air Force Base

Ovda Airbase is an Israeli Air Force (IAF) base, located in the very south of Israel, around 40 kilometers north of Eilat, in a large plain of the southern Negev desert. It has two runways with lengths of 3,000 and 2,600 meters and a heliport. There are currently (2024) no operational fighter jets or helicopters stationed there, but the so-called "Aggressor Squadron" for pilot training. The international military aviation exercise Blue Flag takes place there every two years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ein Shemer Airfield</span> Airport in Hadera, Haifa District

Ein Shemer Airfield also called Hadera East is an Israeli Air Force (IAF) base in northern Israel, located approximately 6 km east of Hadera in the Haifa District, named after the nearby kibbutz Ein Shemer. It houses no fighter jets or helicopters but UAVs for testing and a defense missile battery with long-range radar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Palmachim Airbase</span> Israeli airbase and spaceport

Palmachim Airbase is an Israeli Air Force (IAF) base and spaceport, which the IAF and the Israel Space Agency (ISA) operate jointly. It is located west of the city of Yavne on the Mediterranean coast, 12 km south of the Gush Dan metropolitan area with Tel Aviv, named after the Kibbutz Palmachim north of it. Palmachim is a vital base in Israel's war against Hamas in Gaza. Iran simulated an attack on the base in February 2024.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">122 Squadron (Israel)</span> Military unit

The 122 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force, also known as the Nahshon Squadron, is a G550 squadron based at Nevatim Airbase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">IAI Eitan</span> Israeli unmanned reconnaissance aircraft

The IAI Eitan is an unmanned reconnaissance aircraft developed in Israel in the early 21st century by the Malat division of Israel Aerospace Industries. The aircraft is a newer version of the IAI Heron. Along with intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, and reconnaissance (ISTR), Israeli IAI Eitan also capable of holding armed roles. All exports of the aircraft are unarmed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">115 Squadron (Israel)</span> Military unit

115 Squadron, also known as the Flying Dragon or Red Squadron, is the Israeli Air Force's aggressor squadron. Based at Ovda, it is the sole IAF squadron to operate fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters and ground-based assets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">210 Squadron (Israel)</span> Israeli unmanned reconnaissance aircraft squadron

210 "White Eagle" Squadron of the Israeli Air Force is an IAI Eitan squadron based at Tel Nof Airbase.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Israeli Air Force Flight Academy</span> Israeli Air Force School

The Israeli Air Force Flight Academy trains aircrew to operate Israeli Air Force aircraft, qualifying fighter, helicopter and transport pilots as well as combat and transport navigators.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">147 Squadron (Israel)</span> Military unit

147 Squadron, often referred to as the Flying Ibex or Goring Ram squadron, is a former unit of the Israeli Air Force. Fielding IAF Flight Academy aircraft, it flew the Boeing-Stearman Kaydet during the 1956 Suez Crisis and the Fouga Magister during the 1967 Six-Day War, in the course of which it suffered six fatalities. Between 1978 and 1986 it flew the A-4 Skyhawk.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">149 Squadron (Israel)</span> Military unit

149 Squadron, often referred to as the Smashing or Shattering Parrot squadron is a former unit of the Israeli Air Force. Active from 1976 to 1991, the squadron flew the A-4 Skyhawk and IAI Kfir.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tomer Bar</span> Israeli general and commander of the Israeli Air Force

Aluf Tomer Bar is an Israeli general currently commanding the Israeli Air Force. Before his selection to succeed Amikam Norkin as commander of the IAF, Bar served as head of the IDF Force Design Directorate, a reorganized version of what was once the Planning Directorate.

References

  1. "German military drone program in Israel operating as "Red Baron". 31 January 2019. Retrieved 8 July 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Assaf Oni (1 February 2019). "מדוע נקראת טייסת המל"טים בתל נוף על שם גיבור מלחמה גרמני?". Globes (in Hebrew).
  3. https://www.iaf.org.il/9279-52193-he/IAF.aspx
  4. 1 2 Shay Levy (February 5, 2019). "משתפי פעולה: חיל האוויר החל להכשיר טייסים גרמנים בתל נוף". Mako (in Hebrew).
  5. https://x.com/IAFsite/status/1329349628458897408