Israeli combat aviation. Soviet pilots against the Israeli Air Force. Win with a clean sheet? What is the mood of the Israeli Air Force?

FOREIGN MILITARY REVIEW No. 9/2007, pp. 49-53

Captain 1st rank A. KARPOV

Air Force Israel are an independent branch of the armed forces. They are intended to carry out air operations, gaining air superiority, close support ground forces and Navy, aerial reconnaissance, airborne drops and cargo transportation by air. The Air Force is considered by the Israeli command as the main striking force in combat operations of any scale and the main means for solving problems air defense.

As of January 1, 2007, the Israeli Air Force numbers about 35 thousand people. After mobilization measures, their number can be increased to 59 thousand.

The Air Force is armed with: 89 F-15 aircraft (A, B, C, D and I), 206 F-16 (A, B, C and D), 12 F-16I (planned to deliver 102 aircraft), 5RC-12D , 39 A-4N Skyhawk, 10 Boeing 707, two Boeing 707 Falcon, three G 550, two EC-130, three IAI-1124 Siskan, five KS-130N, 11 C-47, six IAI-202, "Arava", eight Do-28, two "Islander", four Beach 200 "Super King Air", 20 Cessna U-206, 12 Beach 80 "Queen Air", 43SM-170, 17 Coffin-120, 26 TA-4Ni J; helicopters 55 AN-IE and F "Cobra", 33 Hughes 500MD, 40 AN-64A, AH-64D (18 machines ordered), seven AS-565SA, 41 CH-53D, 24 S-70A, 14 UH-60, 34 Bell 212, 43 Bell 206; UAVs “Scout”, “Sicher”, “Pioneer”, “Firebee”, “Samson”, “Deline”, “Hunter”, “Hermes-450”, “Sky AI” and “Harpy”, as well as Arrow missile defense systems , "Hawk", "Patriot" and "Chaparral".

The Air Force has the following types of aviation: fighter-bomber, fighter air defense, reconnaissance and transport. Israeli Air Force planes and helicopters are based mainly at AB Bikat Uvda, Pod, Mitzpe Ramon, Palmachim, Ramat David, Tel Aviv, Tel Nof, Tell el-Milch, Hazor and Hatzerim .

The Air Force has ten air bases, 16 combat and ten support aviation squadrons, ten helicopter squadrons, nine Hawk and Advanced Hawk anti-aircraft guided missile battalions, three Chaparral Vulcan mixed anti-aircraft artillery battalions, and nine anti-aircraft artillery, as well as two squadrons of reconnaissance drones aircraft(UAV).

Israeli Air Force basing system

The leadership of the Air Force is carried out by the commander, who is directly subordinate to the chief of the general staff. The commander is subordinate to the Air Force headquarters, air bases, separate divisions of the Hawk and Advanced Hawk missile defense systems, separate anti-aircraft artillery and mixed Chaparral Vulcan divisions, radio technical troops, military educational institutions and the rear of the Air Force.

Highest organizational unit of the Air Force - airbase. As a rule, it consists of a headquarters, from two to six aviation squadrons, an Advanced Hawk missile defense division or an anti-aircraft artillery division, radio technical troops and logistics units.

The main tactical unit of the Air Force is the air wing. It includes two to four squadrons, each of which consists of three to four flights. The squadron is armed with from 12 to 25 combat and combat training aircraft of the same type.

Management air defense forces and means is carried out by the Deputy Air Force Commander - Air Defense Commander. His direct subordination includes anti-aircraft missile forces, fighter aircraft, flak and radio technical troops.

Anti-aircraft missile forces include separate divisions of the Hawk and Improved Hawk missile defense systems, as well as separate mixed Chaparral-Vulcan anti-aircraft artillery divisions.

The basis of the air defense forces is fighter aircraft. It is organized into squadrons of F-15 and Kfir aircraft.

In May 1994, the Israeli Ministry of Defense entered into an agreement with the American company Boeing for the production and supply of 25 F-151 tactical fighters (an export version of the American F-15E Strike Eagle), intended primarily for striking ground targets. Difference new car from the basic model is that it is equipped with a set of Israeli-made SPS-2100 electronic warfare equipment, which includes an active jamming station, an radiation warning receiver, as well as missile attack warning devices.

The first F-15I fighters arrived in Israel in January 1998. In November of the same year, ten such aircraft were stationed at the Tel Nof airbase, located in the central part of the country. Since 1998, F-151s have been participating in various types of events held both on national territory and abroad. Thus, in the first half of October 1998, three Israeli aircraft of this type took part in the annual American exercise “Red Flag” (AFB Nellis, Nevada). 35 Israeli military personnel were involved in their maintenance.

After completion of deliveries, all F-15Is entered service with the 69th Fighter Squadron of the Israeli Air Force. According to national military media reports, this unit was capable of conducting fighting in full by mid-1999. The leadership of the Moscow Region noted that the development of new machines did not require significant material costs due to the availability of the necessary infrastructure and experience in operating F-15 aircraft of other modifications. In addition, leading Israeli enterprises participated in the manufacture of units and components for aircraft, the construction order of which was issued to Boeing, which significantly simplified the provision of new aircraft with spare parts.

As foreign experts note, the entry into service of the Israeli Air Force with F-15I tactical fighters provides the country's armed forces with the ability to launch effective strikes against ground targets located at remote borders. At the same time, these aircraft have increased the capabilities of the Israeli air defense system, since they are equipped with modern multifunctional airborne radars APG-70 and are carriers of air-to-air missiles. various types. The need for such vehicles is explained by the need to strengthen the Israeli Air Force, since last years there was a slight decrease in their superiority in technical equipment compared to the air forces of neighboring states, whose leaders are taking vigorous measures to re-equip them with modern aircraft. It is emphasized that the F-15I have the highest combat capabilities compared to tactical fighters of the air forces of other countries located in the region. As Western experts note, the tactical characteristics of the Air Force's F-15S aircraft Saudi Arabia, which are also a modification of the American F-15E tactical fighters, are slightly lower than those of Israeli vehicles. They explain this by the fact that the fighters of the Arab state are equipped with simplified airborne radars APG-70 (less powerful processor, on-board computer with less memory, etc.).

In addition, the missions of intercepting air targets are carried out by the flight personnel of fighter-bomber squadrons. If necessary, over 25 percent. F-16 and F-4 aircraft can be used to solve air defense tasks.

Radio technical troops include units and units of radio and electronic reconnaissance, radar support, as well as visual surveillance of the air situation.

Air defense radar posts have been deployed in the areas of Tsefat, El-Bira and Mitzpe: Ramon. If necessary, in the interests of air defense in order to strengthen airspace control, aviation control posts belonging to the Air Force can be used.

The Israeli air defense system is object-zonal. Priority is given to the protection of important government, military and industrial facilities located mainly in the central and northern parts of the country.

Air defense forces and means are organized organizationally into three echelons. The basis of the first echelon is the Arrow anti-missile system (AMS) division (two batteries). Each battery contains six transport-launchers with six Arrow-2 anti-missile missiles. Combat duty of the Arrow anti-aircraft missile system is organized at the Palmachim airbase (15 km south of Tel Aviv) and in the Ein Shemer area (70 km northeast of the capital). The basis of the second echelon of air defense are batteries of Patriot anti-aircraft guided missiles. URO ships from the 6th operational fleet of the US Navy, located on combat patrol off the Mediterranean coast of Israel, are the third tier.

Due to the peculiarities of the country’s geostrategic position and the need to be prepared to immediately repel external aggression in the Israeli Air Force there is only one degree of combat readiness - constant. IN In the event of a surprise attack by the enemy, it is necessary to gain time and give the opportunity to mobilize the remaining branches of the military. The time interval between the announcement of the alarm and the takeoff of aircraft does not exceed 15 minutes. When emergency combat readiness is declared, pilots are on duty directly on the planes.

In this type of armed forces created personnel training system, the main elements of which are training in the military educational institutions x Air Force, studying applied disciplines in military and civilian educational institutions, as well as improving combat training in units and subunits.

As noted in foreign media, such military educational institutions include: the Air Force Academy (aircraft crews are trained, located at the Hatzerim airbase), a technical school (service personnel, Air Force Base Haifa), an air defense school (personnel of air defense and air defense units, n.p. Herzliya) and an aviation vocational school (flight directors, signalmen, control systems personnel and other specialists, Bikat-Uvda settlement).

Courses in applied aviation disciplines are organized at the Air Force Command and Staff College, as well as at the University of Jerusalem and other civilian institutions of higher education.

Tactical fighterF-15 I"Thunder"

Training in units and subunits is a longer process, providing for individual improvement of the basic training of a serviceman during and off duty. Commanders at all levels are personally responsible for the completion of relevant programs by their subordinates. All this makes it possible to achieve high level the professionalism of the personnel necessary for effective application and competent operation of modern aviation equipment.

The leadership of the country's military department pays the closest attention to the training of flight personnel. When developing methods for teaching it, the experience of leading military departments is widely used Western countries, and primarily the USA. Flight and navigator training is carried out at the Air Force Academy, which was opened in 1950. In the process of training cadets, much attention is paid not only to their acquisition of flying skills, but also to their education as future officers. Before being admitted to the academy, candidates undergo a strict selection process. Local recruiting stations are looking for young people with the most suitable qualities to master the profession of a military pilot, who are invited to undergo the first phase of training (within a week). During it, both the personal qualities of applicants and their communication skills are tested. Those who successfully complete this phase begin flight practice on Cessna aircraft, after which they improve their acquired skills on Fouga Magister type aircraft. The course of study is divided into four semesters ( total duration two years). Upon completion, cadets are certified to continue their studies as airplane or helicopter pilots, navigators or on-board engineers. Their further specialization is carried out in two areas: combat and transport aviation. As foreign media note, only 10 percent graduate from the Air Force Academy. cadets who initially entered it.

Israeli Air Force Technical School is the main educational institution that meets the needs for service personnel of this branch of the armed forces from the first days of its creation. Over the years, the school's mission has expanded significantly. It currently provides training for all ground specialists required by the national air force. In addition, various retraining courses for engineering and technical personnel of combat units are organized on its basis. The technical school includes two higher educational institutions - in n. Beersheba and Haifa airbase.

Combat training program is compiled taking into account the tasks facing the Air Force, the peculiarities of the physical and geographical position of the country and the small extent of the territory. Much attention is paid to developing skills in performing combat techniques on simulators. Computer technology and special equipment are widely used to simulate complex air conditions.

In 2006, combat training activities of the Israeli Air Force were practiced during complex, flight-tactical and command post exercises, as well as daily combat training. Particular attention was paid to issues combat use aviation outside Israel, interaction with ground forces and navy. The main event that had a significant impact on the process of combat training of the country's air force flight personnel in 2006 was its participation in combat operations against the Hezbollah group in Lebanon. In addition, the Israeli Air Force practiced combat missions using weapons during flights to the Gaza Strip and the West Bank. Jordan.

Foreign media reports that during a military operation against the Lebanese Shiite organization Hezbollah (July-August 2006), the tactical aviation of the Israeli Air Force solved its inherent tasks, such as: air strikes by infrastructure facilities and positions rocket launchers, direct air support for ground forces, collecting intelligence data on the activities of Hezbollah armed forces.

During the active phase, more than 7,000 combat sorties were flown (up to 200-220 per day). The main burden fell on the crews of F-16 tactical fighters. The places where militants were supposed to be staying were subjected to missile and bomb attacks - almost all infrastructure facilities in Lebanon: residential areas settlements, highways, bridges, airports, sea ​​ports, dams, power plants. As a result, significant damage was caused to the country's economy, in particular, over 500 km were disabled highways, more than 60 bridges, about 800 industrial enterprises, at least 15 thousand residential buildings were destroyed.

According to Western analysts, in general, the Israeli Air Force is one of the most combat-ready types of the country's armed forces. They are capable of carrying out combat missions to ensure national interests and state security in full. The systematic implementation by the country's leadership of programs to modernize the military aviation fleet and equip it with new weapons systems will maintain the trend towards consolidating the superiority of the Israeli Air Force over the air forces of the Arab states of the Middle East.

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The original was taken from a colleague oleggranovsky Are there not enough pilots being trained in Israel?

After the F-16A/B (“Nets”) was removed from service on 12/26/16, the F-16C/D (“Barak”), F-16I (“Sufa”), and F-15A/B/C/D remain in service. (“Baz”), F-15I (“Raam”) and F-35I (“Adir”). The number of aircraft is as follows:

• “Adir” - 9 (41 more ordered);


• "Raam" - 25;


• “Baz” - 89 were received, but 8 were lost in accidents and disasters, 14 were written off or dismantled for parts, another 5 will be written off instead of the currently modernized F-15Ds, 62 remain (89-(8+14+5));


• “Sufa” - 102 received, 4 lost in accidents and disasters, 98 left;


• “Barak” - 135 received, 4 (at least, more likely more) were lost in accidents and disasters, 131 remain. In the near future, it is possible to sell 12 aircraft to Croatia, and even if this deal does not take place, this means that the Air Force is not interested in these aircraft .


• Result: 9+25+62+98+131=325. In fact, there are slightly fewer aircraft, there is no complete information about the losses of the Barak and the decommissioning of the Baz, and 4 of the recently received F-15Ds have not yet been put into service.

How many pilots are needed per aircraft? In the past I have read statements that Israel practices having 2 crews per aircraft, in practice this is nothing more than a myth. For example, there are exact figures for the presence of aircraft and pilots (including reservists) in a particular squadron in 1967. Here are data on squadrons of single-seat fighter-bombers of that period (“Votour” and “Fuga-Magister” I omit):

• 101st (“Mirage-3”) - 22 aircraft, 32 pilots, 1.4 pilots per aircraft;


• 117th (“Mirage-3”) - 24 - 31 - 1.3;


• 119th (“Mirage-3”) - 22 - 20 - 0.9;


• 105th (“Super Mister”) - 35 - 26 - 0.7;


• 109th (“Mr. 4”) - 16 - 26 - 1.6;


• 116th (“Mr. 4”) - 17 - 23 - 1.3;


• 107th (“Hurricane”) - 16 - 17 - 1.1;


• 113th (“Hurricane”) - 35 - 28 - 0.8.

Of course, changes in technology over the years may have altered these proportions. For example, in the past, airplanes operated almost exclusively during the day, and night flights were rare. Nowadays, most Air Force fighter-bombers are capable of operating effectively at night. It would seem that this increases the need for pilots; on the other hand, breakdowns and the need to eliminate them are unlikely to allow one or another aircraft to be operated around the clock, i.e. Some squadrons will be more active during the day, others at night.

In general, I don’t have an exact answer to the second question, but in my opinion 1.4 pilots per plane will be enough. Those. 434 pilots are needed for 310 aircraft.

What is the nature and duration of a pilot's service?

As part of participation in the flight course, you must commit to 7 years of service upon completion of Flight School (from 2015, previously 9 years). Of these 7 years, one year is operational training courses (KAAM and KAAMAM). Next begins service in one of the Air Force squadrons.

Squadron pilots can be divided into 3 categories:

• those who constantly serve in a given squadron (“Sadir”);


• reservists (“Miluim”); here it should be added that pilots who decided not to renew their contract after the mandatory 7 years or who left service after the 2nd, 3rd, etc. contracts, continue to fly in the reserves, and unlike ordinary reservists, who serve for several weeks a year without a break (say 3-4 weeks without a break, or 2 times for 2 weeks, there are many variations), reservist pilots fly once a week - two, accruing at least 40 days of service per year; often serve much more, 60-90 and even 100 days a year;


• regular positions in case of war (hATSAKH, “hatsavat Hirum”) - pilots who transferred to staff positions, instructor positions or went to study return to one of the squadrons during the war; to maintain flight training, they continue to fly regularly in squadrons, much like reservists; Of course, there are staff positions that must be filled during the war, but there are few of them, and sometimes to fill them there is a reservist who is not a pilot, or a former pilot who has already stopped flying.

Thus, termination of a contract, leaving for training, staff or instructor work does not reduce the number of Air Force pilots in case of war. The average age of Flight School graduates is 22 years old, i.e. 23 after KAAM/KAAMAM, the approximate duration of service as a pilot (including reserve) is at least up to 45 years, but often much more, say Yehuda Koren flew until 58 years old, Giora Epstein - up to 59, Amir Nahoumi and Israel Baharav - 60 (usually in In the last years of such a long service, pilots received only instructions).

So, from 23 to 45 years of service plus 20 pilots per year, we have 440 pilots. The catastrophic rate in recent years in Israel is very low (1 catastrophe or severe accident per year for all types of aircraft), there are, of course, write-offs due to illness, road accidents and other accidents not related to the Air Force, other cases of flight cessation up to 45, but all of them are more than are compensated by those who continue to fly after 45. Thus, 10 fighter pilots in the graduating class of each flight school class is enough.

1. Shmuel Gordon “30 Shaot Be-Oktober” (“30 hours in October”, 2008), p. 484.


2. Dani Shalom, Ki Raam Be-Yom Bahir (Like a Bolt from a Clear Sky, 2002), pp. 621-622, 626.

Soviet military pilots, who entered into an air battle with Israeli fighters, lost 5 aircraft without shooting down a single enemy aircraft.

For forty years now there have been legends about this fight. 100 Soviet aces. 50 deadly MiG-21 interceptors, the best modification of the MF at that time. The Russian "legion of death", transferred to urgently to the Middle East, was supposed to radically change the balance of power in the air.

Youth and anger. The desire to fight to the last drop of blood - as bequeathed by the fathers who took Berlin. Your homeland will provide for you the best technology and will teach all the necessary skills of a fighter pilot. The winning squad. Thunderstorm of the air ocean.

We were preparing for this fight. The best of the best were selected for the decisive battle - the 135th Fighter Aviation Regiment of the USSR Air Force, which underwent special training at training grounds in southern regions THE USSR. While the Soviet “falcons” were cutting turns over the Crimea and the Caspian Sea, trying to get behind each other, the Israelis were swallowing the blood of a “war of attrition” and studying, studying, studying, practicing their own air combat techniques.

Only old men go into battle - the best Soviet pilots against Amos Amir, Asher Snir, Abraham Shalmon and Avi Gilad. Only these four aces had a total of more than 20 air victories. The Israeli Air Force command rightly believed that there was no second unit in the world equal in quality of training and capabilities to the squad of “air killers” under the command of Amos Amir.
Two teams of professionals. Two scorpions locked in one vessel. Only one should remain alive. Bolivar can't stand two.

There is a painful unknown ahead. With a shield or on a shield. Internationalist warriors, our country has given you a great honor - the right to represent the interests of Soviet Union in the Middle East conflict region. I have no right to order. Volunteers gathered here. Please, do everything right there and come back alive.
Leaving the room, he added in a stern voice: “Keep in mind, comrades: if you are shot down beyond the Suez Canal line, we don’t know you, get out yourself...” (from the pilots’ recollections of a meeting with USSR Defense Minister A. Grechko)

A secret mission in one of the most dangerous hot spots on the planet. On the wings and fin are the insignia of the Egyptian Air Force. In the forward part of the fuselage there is a tactical number, written in fancy Arabic script. The personnel of the unit, all pilots and technicians are “ana khabir rusi” (translated as “I am a Russian specialist”). The MiGs were based at the air bases of Kom Aushim, Beni Suef, Janaklis, and the forward airfield in Katamiya was periodically used.

The all-seeing intelligence service Mossad has already reported the arrival of the Russians. These are not ordinary instructors, these people came here to fight. There was a brief moment of confusion on the other side of the Suez Canal: A direct existential threat to the State of Israel? But what about maintaining neutrality? How justified is shooting at planes with Russian crews? Could this be the spark of the Great War?
“No, we must fight,” Prime Minister Golda Meir took the initiative into her own hands – “if necessary, immediately engage in battle.”

They carefully prepared for the general duel - from the first half of April 1970, weekly meetings between Russians and Israelis began. Alas, each time the opponents dispersed in different directions, never daring to engage in combat. Israeli pilots carefully observed the behavior of their probable opponents, monitored all their maneuvers and formation patterns during sorties, and studied the control style of Soviet fighters.

If you saw a Mirage, don’t take a turn!

Our pilots view the enemy with no less interest. Here he is! Literally a couple of tens of meters away, to the side, the thick-bellied carcass of the Phantom slides. The American-made two-seat fighter is simply gigantic - 20 tons of continuous speed and fire - versus 8 tons of the MiG's maximum take-off weight! The McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom pendants are littered with a variety of cruise missiles air-to-air class, two engines, a perfect set of on-board electronics. An exceptionally dangerous enemy.

Israeli Air Force F-4E Phantom II

Instead of a deadly and senseless “carousel” with French cars, Soviet pilots were recommended to “keep their distance”, using their trump card - the high thrust-to-weight ratio of the MiG-21. The main thing here is the position at the beginning of the battle and a portion of sharp, energetic maneuvers that allow you to save energy while constantly remaining in a more advantageous position.

...By June 1970, Soviet pilots had flown about 100 sorties to intercept intruders in the skies of Egypt, alas, every time Israeli aviation refused to engage in battle - if there was the slightest danger of a military clash, the enemy immediately retreated deep into their territory. The game of hide and seek continued until June 25, 1970 - on that day, a pair of Soviet MiGs (pilots Krapivin and Salnik) secretly went out to intercept a flight of Skyhawk attack aircraft - one of the R-3 homing missiles fired by the MiGs hit the engine of an aircraft with a Star of David on the fuselage . However, the tenacious Skyhawk managed to stabilize its flight and, smoking with its torn nozzle, disappeared into the sky beyond the Suez Canal.

The heady taste of victory demanded immediate continuation - an ambush on Israeli Mirages was planned for June 27: Egyptian MiG-17s launched a provocative strike on Israeli positions on the eastern side of the canal - then, according to the plan, a flight of Mirages was to rise to intercept the impudent MiGs . Egyptian planes, used as bait, will lure them into their territory, where three groups of MiGs with Soviet crews will enter the battle. Next, the enemy will simply be smashed into the air.

The plan didn't work. Apparently sensing something was wrong, the Israelis refused to rise to intercept. Having ironed out the Israeli stronghold, the Egyptian planes calmly returned to their airfields. The trouble happened in the evening of the same day. The Egyptians repeated the strike - this time four Mirages fell out of the hot haze of the Sinai air. They managed to lure them into Egyptian territory, however... Russian fighters are nowhere to be found! The disgusting interaction between the Russian and Egyptian commands did not allow the interceptors to be raised in time. The Israelis shot two MiG-17s, as in a training exercise, and withdrew beyond the canal line with impunity. The beating of the Egyptian MiGs was observed by four “Russian” MiG-21s, but the ground control command prohibited entering into battle until the arrival of the other two units.

On July 30 a general battle was fought. That battle that they had been waiting for so long and for which they were preparing so hard. In a number of Russian sources, this event takes place under the designation “Battle of El Sokhna.” Official Israeli name: Operation Rimon 20.

Over the course of 40 years, this story has become overgrown with such an unimaginable number of myths and legends that it is almost impossible to establish the exact details, nature and chronicle of the brutal air battle between the USSR Air Force and Hel Haavir (Israel Defense Forces Air Force) that took place on July 30, 1970. The only thing we can talk about with some degree of confidence is: the approximate composition of the forces, the names of some participants and, most importantly, its tragic results - several MiGs with Soviet crews were actually shot down that day. As a result of the air battle, the following were killed:

Zhuravlev Vladimir Aleksandrovich - captain, senior pilot. He was awarded (posthumously) the Order of the Red Banner and the Egyptian Order of Star of Military Valor.

Yurchenko Nikolai Petrovich - captain, flight commander. He was awarded (posthumously) the Order of the Red Banner and the Egyptian Order of Star of Military Valor.

Yakovlev Evgeniy Gerasimovich - captain, flight commander. He was awarded (posthumously) the Order of the Red Banner and the Egyptian Order of Star of Military Valor.

One thing is absolutely clear - this was an organized ambush by the Israeli Air Force (it’s called Operation Rimon-20). But how did it happen that the Soviet pilots ended up trapped? And why couldn’t they get out of it?

There are many answers. According to Israel's jingoistic version, twenty Soviet MiG-21s attacked a "defenseless" pair of Mirage reconnaissance aircraft (bait). Alas, to their surprise, the Russians discovered four fighters flying closely in front of them, so that on the Egyptian screens ground radars Only 2 marks were displayed. Realizing that this was some kind of setup, the Russians twitched and SUDDENLY found themselves surrounded by 12 more Israeli Air Force planes.

20 MiGs against 16 Phantoms and Mirages. As a result, experienced Israeli fighters shot five Soviet aces like partridges and, without losing a single aircraft, returned to their airfields. That night, a feast was buzzing at the Khel Haavir air bases - happy pilots drank away their bonuses for the Russians they killed...Happy end!

The version is vulgar and, naturally, very far from the truth. For example, one of the noteworthy versions from the Ukrainian researcher V. Babich is as follows:

There was no trace of any 20 vs 16 battle. That day there were several battles, separated in time and space - and each time the MiGs fought with many times superior enemy forces - when one Soviet four entered the battle, the other four MiGs were already leaving the battle with a critical remaining fuel. The Israelis calculated everything and were able to achieve a concentration of forces in the right place at the right moment.

Captain Yurchenko was the first to be shot down - his MiG exploded in the air when hit by a Sidewinder missile. A few minutes later, captains Yakovlev and Syrkin had to eject - alas, upon landing, captain Yakovlev fell into a crevice and fell to his death (there is a version that the canopy of his parachute was burned by the jet stream of a fighter flying nearby).

It is still unknown exactly how Captain Zhuravlev died - according to eyewitnesses, he fought alone against four enemy aircraft until he was shot down by a stray cannon fire from the Mirage. It is believed that two Israeli pilots, Ifta Spektor and Abraham Salmon, almost became his victims, as they barely managed to reach Israeli territory in their damaged aircraft.

Mirage explosion

Yurchenko - shot down, killed; Yakovlev - shot down, killed; Syrkin - shot down, survived; Zhuravlev - shot down and killed.
But what about the fifth Russian plane shot down? And he disappeared! Nothing is known about the downed plane or its pilot.

According to rumors, the Israelis managed to shoot down Captain Kamenev’s plane, but there is no evidence of this. In addition, Captain Kamenev himself subsequently continued to serve in the ranks of the USSR Air Force. Rumors, rumors... sometimes they say that one of the MiGs made an emergency landing at one of the Egyptian airfields. Nobody knows what really happened.

At the same time, there are testimonies from witnesses according to which, after the battle, Israeli search and rescue helicopters circled over the battlefield - did the “unbreakable” Khel Haavir really suffer any losses? It's possible. The operation involved many Mirages from the 101, 117 and 119 squadrons, as well as multi-role Phantom fighters from the 69 squadron of the Israeli Air Force. There is a high probability that the fact of the loss of one (or several) vehicles was carefully hidden, and the results of the battle were falsified.

Without resorting to dubious conspiracy theories, the following reliable facts can be established:
As a result of the battle on July 30, 1970, 4 MiG-21s were shot down, killing three Soviet pilots.
Reliable losses of the Israeli Air Force - the shot down Mirage of Asher Snir, which landed at the Refadim airbase.

After battle

A sad and instructive story. Without wanting to “falsify the facts” (it wasn’t us who shot down, but we them!) or “find the guilty” (there were more of them! that’s not fair), I’ll note that Israeli pilots indeed had a number of serious advantages.

1. The Israeli Air Force had the opportunity to thoroughly study the MiG-21 fighter.
On August 15, 1966, Iraqi pilot Munir Redfa hijacked a MiG-21 to Israel (Operation Penicillin). The plane was carefully studied, disassembled and even flown - the Israelis received a complete understanding of the design, combat capabilities and secrets of the Soviet fighter. Soviet pilots, alas, we did not have such an opportunity - acquaintance with enemy “Mirages” and “Phantoms” took place directly in air combat.

2. The Israelis used the latest tactics- excellent organization of the battle, the use of electronic warfare equipment - barrages of electronic interference “clogged” all Soviet communication lines, completely disrupting battle control.

3. Combat experience. The Israeli Air Force really had an impressive track record air battles– every day, for many years, Khel Haavir fighters flew out to intercept air targets - regular air battles in the entire range of altitudes, dashing chases and exchanges of missiles, sorties to escort strike groups... Such things leave their mark on the organization of combat work of aviation.
One of bright examples- meticulous coverage of the situation in the air: not only the current courses of the aircraft, but also their radio communications were plotted on the combat tablet - this made it possible to understand the situation in a matter of seconds and redirect the aircraft to where they were especially needed.

4. The most important thing. Pilot training and combat control system.
In one interview, the commander of the Israeli Air Force, Lieutenant General Mordechai Hot, said: “We just tell the squadron commander what needs to be done, and he decides how to do it.” Analyzing the results of combat sorties, the Israeli Air Force shifted the center of gravity of preparation for combat to the flight level. The squadron commander independently planned the scenario for the upcoming operation, using “home preparations” and accumulated data on the behavior of enemy aircraft in the air.

Unlike Israeli pilots, soviet fighters were shackled by a monstrous chain of prohibitions, recommendations and regulations. It is no coincidence that immediately after tragic events 07/30/1970, all participants in the battle were gathered by the commander of the Soviet aviation group in Egypt, General Grigory Ustinovich Dolnikov:

The meaning of what was said was that all prohibitions and restrictions on aerobatics and combat maneuvering were lifted. We had to start air training from scratch and be guided by our common sense, and not someone else's conscience. The General encouraged us to trust our own instincts and intuition, and he himself pledged to believe in our common good fortune.

“Egyptian fighters in the “war of attrition”,” History of Aviation, No. 2/2001

http://www.skywar.ru
http://www.hubara-rus.ru
http://airwar.ru
"Fire in the Sky" by Amos Amir (brigadier-general). UK: Pen & Sword Aviation, 2005

F-16 fighter plane preparing to take off. 1991 Photo by Ts. Israeli. State Press Bureau. Israel.

Defense Minister M. Arens with a team of technicians servicing F-16 fighter aircraft. 1991 Photo by Ts. Israeli. State Press Bureau. Israel.

Demonstration flight of Israeli Air Force aircraft at a military parade dedicated to the 50th anniversary of the State of Israel. 1998 Photo by M. Milner. State Press Bureau. Israel.

Israeli UAV Aerostar.

General provisions

One of the most important aspects of Israeli strategic doctrine, designed to solve the problem of a small country surrounded by a numerically superior enemy, is the concentrated and coordinated use of air power against enemy ground forces and rear lines (which, among other things, reduces casualties).

Successful raids from Israeli territory into Uganda (Operation Entebbe to free the hostage passengers of an Air France plane on July 4, 1976) and Iraq (the bombing of a nuclear reactor on June 7, 1981) once again demonstrated the importance of Israel as a base of operations. , allowing the air force stationed here to effectively control vast areas of the Middle East and East Africa.

Israeli Air Force personnel and weapons

Defense information in Israel is not subject to publication; Thus, the data below is based primarily on estimates from authoritative foreign sources, as well as Israeli researchers.

There are four types of aviation: tactical, air defense, reconnaissance and transport.

About 36 thousand people served in the air force in 2002. During mobilization, the Israeli Air Force personnel reaches approximately 91 thousand people. The Air Force has a relatively large number of career military personnel.

The Israeli Air Force has, according to various sources, up to 800 combat aircraft, including 628 in service and 172 (57 Skyhawk models and 115 Kfir models) in operational storage (that is, maintained in combat-ready condition; intended for sale abroad or for use in an emergency) - more than in the army of any of the countries bordering Israel (Egypt has 505, Syria has 451, Jordan has 97, Lebanon has no combat aircraft). The number of Israeli Air Force combat vehicles, including missile-equipped helicopters, is detailed in the table.

Table 1. Number of Israeli Air Force combat aircraft various models, 2002

At the beginning of the 21st century, Israel bought 50 F-35 fighters from the United States, of which 2 squadrons were made up.

In addition to combat aircraft, the Israeli Air Force has 57 (according to other sources - 79) transport aircraft Boeing-707, C-130H Hercules, Arava and Dorenier model Do-28B-1; 6 transport refueling aircraft; 138 training aircraft; 22 communications aircraft; and also by plane electronic intelligence and patrol aircraft. The country's air force also has 135 combat helicopters AH-64A Apache, AH-1G/E/F/S Cobra and 500MD Defender, as well as transport helicopters of various modifications.

The Israeli Armed Forces have air delivery vehicles nuclear weapons(including American-made F-16, F-4E Phantom and A-4N Sky Hawk aircraft).

Air defense troops

In Israel, all specialized air defense systems, except for naval ones, are concentrated in the air defense forces (Hail nun-mem; “nun-mem” is an abbreviation for “ neged matosim" - literally "against the aircraft") that are part of the Air Force.

Air defense is a combat branch of the military, and recruits are required to have a high medical profile. Training of combat personnel takes place at the Air Defense School (BISNAM-833, formerly located in Herzliya, later transferred to Mashavei Sade), technical personnel - at the Air Force Technical School in Haifa.

Maintenance of air defense systems is carried out by the Air Force Systems and Weapons Maintenance Center (Matnam, Merkaz tahzukat neshek u-ma'arakhot), as well as civilian companies. Missile testing and most air defense system firing exercises are conducted at the Missile Testing Unit (YANAT, Yehidat Nisuey Ha-Tilim) in Palmachim. Other shootings are carried out at the Shedma training ground (in the south of Israel, in the Mitzpe Ramon area).

The tasks of air defense include:

• Providing air defense for the country. This task is performed anti-aircraft missile systems"Patriot" and advanced HAWK complexes in interaction with the command and control system and fighter aircraft.
• Security missile defense countries. The warning about the launch of ballistic missiles towards Israel comes from a network of American early warning satellites. The interception is carried out by specialized Hets-2 anti-missile missiles, and in case of failure - by Patriot missiles.
• Defense of individual military and civilian installations (for example, Air Force bases, nuclear center in Dimona).
• Air defense of ground forces. This task is performed by mobile air defense systems; their divisions are armed with the Stinger and Chaparral anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as the Makhbet missile and artillery systems.
• Security and ground defense of Air Force bases.

The first air defense systems (40-mm L-70 anti-aircraft guns) were supplied to Israel by the German government in 1962; in the same year, the first HAWK anti-aircraft missile systems arrived in Israel from the United States. It was Germany and the United States that supported the development of Israeli air defense throughout the subsequent years. As of 2002, Israel had 22 batteries of heavy anti-aircraft missile systems, as well as approximately 70 portable installations light anti-aircraft missile systems.

History of the Israeli Air Force

Start

George Berling, one of the first Israeli pilots.

Sydney Shulemson, organizer of the recruitment of foreign volunteers in the Israeli Air Force.

On May 14–15, 1948, simultaneously with the proclamation of the State of Israel and the promulgation of its Declaration of Independence, Egyptian planes bombed Tel Aviv.

In March 1948, the Jewish Defense Air Force consisted of 30 light aircraft, which were used for reconnaissance, cargo transportation and supply to isolated areas. The first Messerschmidt type fighters were purchased in 1948 from Czechoslovakia. The Israeli command brought 4 of them into battle on May 29, 1948, while defending the southern borders from the advancing Egyptian army.

An Israeli Air Force base was established in the Czech town of Žitec. There they accepted aircraft purchased in Czechoslovakia and equipped them with additional tanks for transportation to Israel.

American entrepreneur Al Schwimmer obtained 4 B-17 bombers for Israel. They were used to retaliate against the Egyptians after the bombing of Jerusalem on the night of July 12, 1948. He also recruited many American pilots to serve in the TSAAL. Subsequently, he founded the Israel Aviation Industry concern.

On January 7, 1949, the day the ceasefire agreement came into force, Israeli aircraft shot down five British fighters. Later it turned out that they were mistaken for Egyptian combat aircraft, which fired at Israeli positions every day.

The first jet aircraft of the Israeli Air Force - Meteor - were purchased from Great Britain.

Six Day War and War of Attrition

In 1961–63 boss General Staff The Tsahal was Tzvi Tzur. His main focus was on re-equipping the weapons arsenal of the Israel Defense Forces, especially the air force and navy, so that they would have a qualitative advantage over the forces of potential adversaries.

In 1965–66 Israel has repeatedly shelled and bombed from the air the route of the canal being built to divert the sources of the Jordan - the Dan, Hermon (Banias), Snir (Hasbani) rivers - into the reservoir on the Yarmouk River in Jordan. This forced the Syrians to stop construction.

On April 7, 1967, Israeli aircraft shot down six enemy military aircraft in Syrian airspace. On August 15, 1966, Israeli police boats were attacked on the Kinneret; in response, Israeli fighters shot down two Syrian planes over the lake.

Due to the French embargo, the United States became the only arms supplier to Israel. In December 1968, US President L. Johnson agreed to supply Israel with 50 Phantom-type aircraft.

Yom Kippur War

The Syrians had more than 300 Soviet-made aircraft. The advantage of the Syrians in the air was based, however, on the air defense system - anti-aircraft guns and missiles of the Sam-2, Sam-3 and Sam-6 types. There were 120 missile launchers operating at 20 Syrian missile bases. This system, which covered the attacking divisions, caused significant damage to Israeli aircraft, which did not expect to encounter such a massive defense.

The Israeli Air Force had 500 aircraft, including 100 Phantoms and 160 Skyhawks. However, Israeli aviation was forced to operate on two fronts - Egyptian and Syrian. On the southern front, she had to repel attacks by Egyptian aircraft and break through the Egyptian air defense system, much stronger than the Syrian one.

Israeli air operations became increasingly effective as the Syrians advanced and moved away from their air cover.

In the first days of the war, Israeli Air Force planes bombed bridges and rafts built by the Egyptians. But they also suffered significant losses from anti-aircraft missiles. Thus, Israeli aviation was not able to stop the crossing of the canal. They could only slow down the crossing somewhat, but this was achieved at the cost of heavy losses in the aircraft.

After the crossing of Egyptian troops through the Suez Canal, Israeli aircraft continued to attack the enemy, but it was clear that this time the Egyptian air defense would not allow it to play a decisive role, as it did in 1967.

On October 14, the Egyptian army for the first time came out from under the cover of its defense system, which relies on anti-aircraft and anti-tank missile systems. Israeli aviation began to operate at the forefront with its usual high efficiency, no longer threatened by Sam-type missiles.

Lebanon War

In July 1981, terrorists moved their fire from the border strip, which was controlled by Christian militia, to settlements in northern Israel. Israel responded with a massive bombing of terrorist bases in Southern Lebanon and headquarters in Beirut.

The PLO continued to heavily arm itself and carry out terrorist activities in Israel and abroad; Military operations against Hadad's forces did not stop. In response, Israel bombed terrorist bases twice.

The day after the assassination attempt on the Israeli ambassador in London, Sh. Argov (June 3, 1982) Israeli planes bombed terrorist bases in Lebanon.

On June 9, Syria significantly increased the number of its anti-aircraft missile launchers in Lebanon. In response to this move, on the same day, the Israeli Air Force destroyed 19 Syrian missile batteries and, in the ensuing air battle, shot down 23 Syrian aircraft (MiG-21 and MiG-23), without losing a single one. The next day, another 25 Syrian aircraft were shot down and two missile batteries were destroyed in aerial combat.

During the course of the war, two Israeli warplanes and two helicopters were shot down by ground fire. terror

in April 2004 he was appointed deputy chief, and on June 1, 2005 - chief of the General Staff of the Israel Defense Forces. Dan Halutz was the first person from the air force to serve as head of the General Staff in the history of the State of Israel. His professional worldview was largely shaped by his own experience in the army - he argued that it was the air force that played the decisive role in modern wars, while the function ground forces, rather, auxiliary.

Based on this doctrine, Halutz formulated his system of priorities both in the distribution of budgetary allocations and directly in the development of plans for conducting combat operations and their implementation. In accordance with this doctrine, Halutz led the fighting israeli army during the Second Lebanon War in July - August 2006, and his opinion was decisive, since the head of government Ehud Olmert and Defense Minister Amir Peretz, being purely civilians, did not have the relevant knowledge and experience.

Halutz decided not to carry out a large-scale ground operation and did not announce a mass call-up of reservists. In his opinion, Israel could win the war with the help of aviation, which should have used massive air strikes to force the Lebanese government to take responsibility for ensuring calm on the Israeli-Lebanese border. General Benny Gantz opposed this.

This concept turned out to be erroneous: despite the actions of the Israeli Air Force, Hezbollah forces continued to shell Israeli territory with the connivance of the Lebanese government, while Israel found itself under the fire of intense international criticism for the disproportionate use of force and the destruction of Lebanese civilian infrastructure. The decision to attack by ground forces was made only almost a month after the start of the war, when intensive negotiations were already underway on the conditions for ending it.

Aviation industry

In the 1980s, a project was developed in Israel to produce a new generation of Lavi fighters. It was closed at the end of 1987 due to insufficient funding.

Today, the products of Israeli industry include aircraft (light - for operational communications and maritime patrol, transport, unmanned aircraft, fighters and fighter-bombers). Aircraft converted by Israeli enterprises in recent years are in service with Croatia, Romania, Turkey, Zambia, Cambodia, Burma, Sri Lanka and other countries. Israel controls 90% of the global market for unmanned aircraft, with the United States being the main buyer; Many other countries are also acquiring this equipment.

Israeli Air Force Museum (Hatzerim military base)

Israeli Air Force Museum (

HEYL AVIR - this is the name in Hebrew for the air force of the Jewish state, which is considered the main strike weapon of the IDF. They were founded in October 1947 and by the beginning of the War of Independence they comprised 4 squadrons of 28 light passenger aircraft. They were re-equipped, machine guns and homemade bomb releasers were installed. These machines were piloted by experienced pilots, participants in the 2nd World War. And although there was not a single combat aircraft among their aircraft, the actions of the first IDF squadrons terrified the Arabs.

During the war they were joined by 25 Messerschmitts purchased from Czechoslovakia, 13 fighters purchased from the USA and 10 from South Africa, on which another 40 volunteer pilots flew.

Despite such varied and not at all modern equipment, Israeli aviation dominated the battlefields, and when British attack aircraft came to the aid of the Egyptians surrounded in the Falluja area, Jewish pilots routed them, shooting down 6 planes.

In subsequent wars, the Heil Avir was equipped mainly with French Mister and Mirage fighters. Using these machines, the Israelis steadily gained air supremacy, which was one of the main prerequisites for the defeat of the Arab armies.

And only in the 70s did the re-equipment of Heil Avir with American-made aircraft begin. At the same time, Israeli firms began implementing their own projects for the production of combat vehicles. And today Israel is one of the few countries producing modern fighters, which includes the Kfir in service. But even before him, Israeli designers created the Lavi fighter-bomber, whose characteristics were superior to its contemporary aircraft. And the Americans literally forced them to stop fine-tuning this machine, pledging to supply their own fighters in return. Today they make up the bulk of the Israeli Air Force's combat aircraft fleet.

Organizationally, they consist of aviation and air defense. Heading Heil Avir Commander (in given time Major General Dan Halutz) is subordinate to the Chief of the General Staff and is responsible for combat readiness, development, operational training and logistics of the Air Force, which is headquartered in Tel Aviv.

In terms of the number of planes and helicopters, Israeli aviation is not inferior to leading European countries. There are more than 700 combat aircraft, of which 250 are in reserve. 18 squadrons, consisting of 86 F-15 "Styk Eagle" interceptors, 232 F-16 "Fighting Falcon" fighter-bombers, 50 F-4 "Phantom" fighter-bombers, 100 front-line A-4 Sky Hawk attack aircraft and 250 Kfir fighter-bombers. The basis of combat aviation is american planes F-15 and F-16, capable of delivering over 10 tons of bombs and missiles to a distance of up to 1500 km.

The reconnaissance unit includes 10 Avax aircraft, 6 Boeings equipped with the Falcon detection system, 33 long-range reconnaissance aircraft and electronic warfare. Military transport aviation consists of 5 squadrons - 34 transport and 8 refueling aircraft. The helicopter formation consists of 130 attack helicopters, 153 transport and landing helicopters and 10 anti-submarine helicopters.

Air Force units are stationed at 10 air bases. In addition, there are 47 more airfields, of which only three have unpaved runways, the rest have hard surfaces. All of them are equipped with systems that enable flights in adverse weather conditions and at night.

Aviation personnel number 21 thousand people, mostly career officers and sergeants (another 20 thousand are in the air defense, mostly conscripts). The Heil Avir command pays the closest attention to the recruitment and training of the flying contingent. In Israel, for several decades now, the selection of candidates for this, frankly speaking, the most prestigious military profession has been established.

All recruiting stations are looking for young men who are most suitable, based on their psychophysical characteristics, to become pilots, looking for them in secondary schools. Selected graduates undergo a ten-day training camp. Those who successfully complete it are trained in flight practice on light aircraft for a year. The best become applicants for admission to the Air Force Academy located at Hatzerim Air Base. But, despite such a harsh selection, no more than 15 percent of those initially admitted to this academy graduate.

In the future, Israeli pilots continuously improve their skills. They have the largest flying time in the world, 30 percent superior to American pilots, although an hour of flight of a modern fighter costs the Israelis 17 thousand dollars. More than half of the combat pilots who have served are in the mobilization reserve and are systematically involved in flights in order to preserve the received skills at a level not inferior to professional pilots.

Both pilots are required to live in close proximity to the air base where they serve or to which they are assigned according to the mobility plan. The strictest secrecy regime is observed in their regard, it is forbidden to photograph them, their names and place of residence constitute state secrets. All measures for training pilots and caring for them are fully justified by the highest combat skills of these air fighters, who have earned the reputation of the best in the world.

Ground technical personnel are trained at the Air Force school located in Beer Sheva, flight managers and control systems specialists are trained at Bikat Uvda.

Upon mobilization, all Air Force reservists are required to arrive at their air bases within 24-36 hours in full readiness for combat operations. At the same time, the Air Force personnel are increasing by 12 thousand people.

The air defense forces became part of Heil Avir in 1965, when the then modern American Hawk-type anti-aircraft missile systems (SAM) were adopted. According to the Military Technology magazine, as of January 1, 2003, Israeli air defense consisted of 17 batteries of the Advanced HOK air defense system, 6 batteries of the Patriot air defense system and 8 batteries of the Chapparel short-range air defense system.

Despite such a relatively abundant amount of air defense systems, the Israeli leadership believed that they did not guarantee the country from immediate defeat tactical missiles, which potential adversaries have - Iraq, Iran, Syria and Egypt. Therefore, since 1988, specialists from the Israeli company AIAI and the American corporation Lockheed Martin have been developing anti-missile system(PRK), called "Arrow". It was created by 1998, tested, and in 2000 the first battery was put on combat duty in a positional area north of Tel Aviv.

The Arrow anti-aircraft missile system is designed for confident interception of warheads of operational-tactical missiles (range up to a thousand km) and enemy aircraft at distances of up to 100 km and altitudes of up to 50 km. The interception weapon is a two-stage Arrow-2 anti-missile missile with an inseparable warhead. It is equipped with a combined (infrared and radar) homing head, which ensures reliable target acquisition in difficult weather conditions and in the presence of active radio countermeasures.