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104-575: In the 1950s, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) submitted requirements for a domestically made air-to-air missile, to promote domestic defense industry and reduce reliance on imports. Rafael Armament Development Authority was contracted to develop the Shafrir ( Hebrew : שפריר , loosely translated as Dragonfly , a male form of inflection for Damselfly , שפרירית) in 1959. The missile entered operational status with Israeli Mirage jets in 1963, but

208-605: A Roketsan -made Stinger against either Russian or Syrian aircraft (or possibly against both). In February 2022, several countries announced that they were providing Stinger missiles to Ukrainian forces defending against the Russian invasion . Germany announced that it would provide 500 missiles. Denmark said that it will provide parts for 300 missiles, to be assembled in the United States. The Netherlands stated they would supply 200 units. Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, and

312-680: A civilian casualty ratio of 1:30, or one civilian casualty for every thirty combatant casualties, in its airstrikes on militants in the Palestinian territories . Alan Dershowitz noted that "No army in history has ever had a better ratio of combatants to civilians killed in a comparable setting". The IAF played a critical role in the 2006 Lebanon War . IAF strikes—mainly, though not exclusively, in southern Lebanon —were aimed at stopping rocket launches by Hezbollah 's militia targeting Israeli towns. The IAF flew more than 12,000 combat missions during this war. The most notable, taking place during

416-647: A "Python 6" version based on an air-launched Stunner missile was abandoned. To achieve greater range, a dual-pulse solid rocket motor is added, where the secondary pulse of energy as the missile nears the target extends flight time. It also combines the seeker and fuse into an integrated sensor and fusing system to make room for the new motor. In May 2019, it was reported that India was planning to arm its Sukhoi Su-30MKI fighters with I-Derby ER missiles to replace its R-77 missiles. Previously, in 2018, it had already been selected for Indian Air Force's HAL Tejas fighter. The SPYDER ( S urface-to-air PY thon and DER by)

520-482: A Libyan bombardment on 10 September 1987 and shot down a Hercules transport aircraft on 7 July 1988. The Chadian government received Stinger missiles from the United States, when Libya invaded the northern part of the African country. On 8 October 1987, a Libyan Su-22MK was shot down by a FIM-92A fired by Chadian forces. The pilot, Capt. Diya al-Din, ejected and was captured. He was later granted political asylum by

624-681: A Python-5 air-to-air missile. Also known as the Alto, the Derby missile is a BVR , medium-range (~50 km (31 mi)) active radar homing missile. Though technically not part of the "Python" family, the missile is an enlarged version of the Python-4 with an active-radar seeker. In June 2015, Rafael confirmed the existence of the I-Derby-ER, an extended range version of the Derby that increases range to 54 nmi (62 mi; 100 km), after

728-565: A Russian general who claims the United States "greatly exaggerated" Soviet and Afghan aircraft losses during the war. According to Soviet figures, in 1987–1988, only 35 aircraft and 63 helicopters were destroyed by all causes. The Pakistan Army fired 28 Stingers at enemy aircraft with no kill. According to Soviet figures, by 25 December 1987, only 38 aircraft (airplanes, helicopters) were lost and 14 more were damaged by MANPADS ( Blowpipe or Stinger), or 10.2% kill probability. According to Crile, who includes information from Alexander Prokhanov ,

832-634: A Stinger. On 30 May, at about 11:00 a.m., an Aérospatiale SA 330 Puma helicopter was brought down by another missile, also fired by the SAS , in the vicinity of Mount Kent . Six Argentine National Gendarmerie Special Forces troops were killed and eight more wounded. The main MANPADS used by both sides during the Falklands War was the Blowpipe missile . In late 1985, several groups, such as Free

936-465: A dark blue background. The service's most senior-ranking active officer is the air force commander, which is the billet of a major general ( aluf ), and reports directly to the IDF Chief of Staff . FIM-92 Stinger The FIM-92 Stinger is an American man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS) that operates as an infrared homing surface-to-air missile (SAM). It can be adapted to fire from

1040-483: A limited shelf life due to argon leakage. The IFF system receives power from a rechargeable battery , which is part of the IFF interrogator box, which plugs into the base of the gripstock's pistol grip. Guidance to the target is initially through proportional navigation , then switches to another mode that directs the missile towards the target airframe instead of its exhaust plume . There are three main variants in use:

1144-687: A limited amount of FIM-92 Stingers to the Free Syrian Army . On 27 February 2020, during the northwestern offensive launched in December 2019 by the Syrian regime (backed by Russia, Iran and Hezbollah ), Russian and Syrian aircraft (variously reportedly as Russian Su-34s and Syrian Su-22 ) attacked a Turkish military convoy near Idlib , killing 36 Turkish soldiers. That day, video footage emerged of alleged Turkish soldiers (backing Syrian opposition fighters) firing what apparently looks like

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1248-605: A loss of between 5 and 21 for the Israelis, on all fronts. No official numbers were released on the Arab side, though total Egyptian losses were between 235 and 242 aircraft. Syria lost between 135 and 179. Since the war, most of Israel's military aircraft have been obtained from the United States. Among these are the F-4 Phantom II , A-4 Skyhawk , F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon . The Israeli Air Force has operated

1352-512: A munitions factory south of Khartoum. The Israeli Air Force also operates surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery units. Since 1990 their primary role has been the interception of surface-to-surface missiles and rockets fired into Israel. In 2011 the IAF began operating the ' Iron Dome ' anti-rocket missile system, which within a year had successfully intercepted and destroyed 93 rockets fired at Israeli towns from Gaza. In November 2012,

1456-585: A number of domestically produced types such as the IAI Nesher , and later, the more advanced IAI Kfir , which were derivatives of the French Dassault Mirage 5 . The Kfir was adapted to utilize a more powerful U.S. engine, produced under license in Israel. On July 4, 1976, four Israeli C-130 Hercules transport aircraft secretly flew to Entebbe Airport for a rescue operation . In March 1978,

1560-548: A previous DDA part is no longer being made. The old DDA will continue to be used in production up until stocks are exhausted, which is expected by 2026 when deliveries of Stingers with the new component are expected to begin. The Stinger's combat debut occurred during the Falklands War ( Spanish : Guerra de las Malvinas ) fought between the United Kingdom and Argentina. At the onset of the conflict soldiers of

1664-531: A reprogrammable microprocessor, allowing for incremental firmware updates. Later missiles designated D received improvements to improve their ability to defeat countermeasures, and later upgrades to the D were designated G. The FIM-92E or Stinger RMP Block I was developed from 1992 and delivered from 1995 (certain sources state that the FIM-92D is also part of the Block I development). The main changes were again in

1768-569: A service life extension will keep the Block I in service until 2030. With the arsenal declining from obsolescence, on 10 November 2020 the U.S. Army issued a request for information for a replacement MANPADS. The new system will be compatible with the Stinger Vehicle Universal Launcher used on the IM-SHORAD and be able to defeat fixed and rotary-wing aircraft, as well as Group 2 and 3 UAS as well as or better than

1872-635: A wide variety of ground vehicles, and from helicopters and drones as the Air-to-Air Stinger (ATAS). It entered service in 1981 and is used by the militaries of the United States and 29 other countries. It is principally manufactured by Raytheon Missiles & Defense and is produced under license by Airbus Defence and Space in Germany and by Roketsan in Turkey . The FIM-92 Stinger

1976-601: Is $ 7,281,000,000. It is rumored that the United States Secret Service has Stinger missiles to defend the President, a notion that has never been dispelled; however, U.S. Secret Service plans favor moving the President to a safer place in the event of an attack rather than shooting down the plane, lest the missile (or the wreckage of the target aircraft) hit innocents. During the 1980s, the Stinger

2080-520: Is a passive surface-to-air missile that can be shoulder-fired by a single operator (although standard military procedure calls for two operators – team chief and gunner). The Stinger was intended to supplant the FIM-43 Redeye system, the principal difference being that, unlike the Redeye, the Stinger can acquire the target from head-on, giving much more time to acquire and destroy

2184-493: Is an advanced ground based anti-aircraft missile system developed by Rafael that uses surface-to-air versions of the Python-5 and Derby missiles. Israeli Air Force The Israeli Air Force ( IAF ; Hebrew : זְרוֹעַ הָאֲוִיר וְהֶחָלָל , romanized :  Zroa HaAvir VeHahalal , lit.   'tl', "Air and Space Arm", commonly known as חֵיל הָאֲוִיר ‎, Kheil HaAvir , "Air Corps") operates as

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2288-467: Is believed one Sukhoi Su-24 was shot down by a Stinger missile during the Second Chechen War . The Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam also managed to acquire one or several Stingers, possibly from former Mujahideen stocks, and used at least one to down a Sri Lanka Air Force Mi-24 on 10 November 1997. In 2000, the U.S. inventory contained 13,400 missiles. The total cost of the program

2392-511: Is closely matched to the launching aircraft's engine exhaust, there is a readily distinguishable difference in UV signature between flares and jet engines. The Stinger-RMP is so-called because of its ability to load a new set of software via ROM chip inserted in the grip at the depot. If this download to the missile fails during power-up, basic functionality runs off the onboard ROM. The four-processor RMP has 4 KB of RAM for each processor . Since

2496-444: Is inserted into the gripstock. This device consists of a supply of high-pressure gaseous argon , which is injected into the seeker to cryogenically cool it to operating temperature, and a thermal battery , which provides power for target acquisition: a single BCU provides power and coolant for roughly 45 seconds, after which another must be inserted if the missile has not been fired. The BCUs are somewhat sensitive to abuse and have

2600-478: The British Army 's Special Air Service (SAS) had been clandestinely equipped with six missiles, although they had received little instruction in their use. The sole SAS trooper who had received training on the system, and was due to train other troops, was killed in a helicopter crash on 19 May. Nonetheless, on 21 May 1982 an SAS soldier engaged and shot down an Argentine Pucará ground attack aircraft with

2704-577: The Gaza Strip . Seventeen trucks were bombed, and thirty-nine smugglers were killed in the strike. On April 5, 2011, a car driving from Port Sudan Airport to Port Sudan was destroyed by a missile. Both passengers were killed. one of whom may have been a senior Hamas military commander. The Sudanese Foreign Minister blamed the attack on Israel. Sudanese newspapers reported that Israeli aircraft attacked Gaza-bound arms convoys again in late 2011. On October 24, 2012, Sudan claimed that Israel had bombed

2808-655: The Korean War . Israel Defence Forces had until 1995 denied women the opportunity to become pilots. In 1995, civilian pilot and aeronautical engineer Alice Miller successfully petitioned the Israel High Court of Justice to take the Israeli Air Force pilot training exams, after being rejected on grounds of gender. The court in 1996 eventually ruled that the IAF could not exclude qualified women from pilot training. Even though Miller would not pass

2912-649: The Suez Canal into Egypt. Israeli forces fanned north and south, destroying Egyptian rear units and punching holes through its air defence array. This allowed the IAF the freedom of action it was previously denied and renewed attacks led to the collapse of the Egyptian Air Defence Force . This prompted increased diplomatic activity to resolve the war, coupled with increased activity by the Egyptian Air Force. From about October 18 to

3016-501: The Yom Kippur War broke out on October 6, 1973, Egyptian and Syrian advances forced the IAF to abandon detailed plans for the destruction of enemy air defences . Forced to operate under the missile and anti-aircraft artillery threats, the close air support it provided allowed Israeli troops on the ground to stem the tide and eventually go on the offensive. Since that war most of Israel's military aircraft have been obtained from

3120-885: 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. The Israeli Air Force was established using commandeered or donated civilian aircraft and obsolete and surplus World War II combat aircraft . Eventually, more aircraft were procured, including Boeing B-17s , Bristol Beaufighters , de Havilland Mosquitoes and P-51D Mustangs . The Israeli Air Force played an important part in Operation Kadesh , Israel's part in

3224-530: The boresight of the launching aircraft. The Shafrir-1 was developed in 1959–1964 to fulfill IAF's requirement for a domestic air-to-air missile. It was intended to build the domestic defense industry's abilities, and reduce reliance on foreign imports. The fear of foreign dependence was later proven when France banned arms export to Israel. The Shafrir-1 was intended for use on French-built Mirage III jets. The first testing took place in France in 1963. However

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3328-689: The 1956 Suez Crisis , dropping paratroopers at the Mitla Pass . On June 5, 1967, the first day of the Six-Day War , the Israeli Air Force performed Operation Focus , debilitating the opposing Arab air forces and attaining air supremacy for the remainder of the war. Shortly after the end of the Six-Day War, Egypt initiated the War of Attrition , and the Israeli Air Force performed repeated bombings of strategic targets deep within enemy territory. When

3432-472: The 1982 Lebanon War, scoring 35 (other sources claim 50) kills. China's PLAAF was quite impressed with this missile, and paid for licensed production as the PL-8 AAM in the 1980s. The program code named "Number 8 Project" (八号工程) and formally started on September 15, 1983. From March 1988 to April 1989, technology transfer to China was complete while license assembly and license built parts continued, and by

3536-469: The 1989 Soviet withdrawal from Afghanistan, the U.S. attempted to buy back the Stinger missiles , with a $ 55 million program launched in 1990 to buy back around 300 missiles (US$ 183,300 each). The U.S. government collected most of the Stingers it had delivered, but by 1996 around 600 were unaccounted for and some found their way into Croatia , Iran , Sri Lanka , Qatar , and North Korea . According to

3640-616: The 1990s, and like its predecessor Python-3, it is integrated with the Elbit Systems DASH ( Display And Sight Helmet ) HMS system for Israeli F-15s and F-16s, Chilean F-16s (MLU and C/D block 50/52 plus), F-5E/F Tiger III, South American Kfirs and the SAAB JAS 39 Gripen. The missile's seeker is reported to use dual band technology array similar to that of US FIM-92 Stinger ( infrared homing and ultraviolet), with IRCCM (IR ECCM) ability to reduce background IR radiation to reduce

3744-590: The CIA had to pass all of its funding and weapons to the Mujahideen. President Zia constantly had to gauge how much he could "make the pot boil" in Afghanistan without provoking a Soviet invasion of his own country. According to George Crile III, U.S. Representative Charlie Wilson 's relationship with Zia was instrumental in the final go-ahead for the Stinger introduction. Wilson and his associates at first viewed

3848-881: The CIA, already in August 1988 the U.S. had demanded from Qatar the return of Stinger missiles. Wilson later told CBS he "lived in terror" that a civilian airliner would be shot down by a Stinger, but he did not have misgivings about having provided Stingers to defeat the Soviets. The story of the Stingers in Afghanistan was popularly told in the media by Western sources primarily, notably in Charlie Wilson's War by George Crile , and Ghost Wars by Steve Coll . The Reagan administration provided 310 Stingers to Jonas Savimbi 's UNITA movement in Angola between 1986 and 1989. As in Afghanistan, efforts to recover missiles after

3952-943: The Eagle , began arguing the CIA was not doing enough to support the Mujahideen in the Soviet–Afghan War . Michael Pillsbury , Vincent Cannistraro , and others put enormous bureaucratic pressure on the CIA to provide the Stinger to the rebels. The idea was controversial because up to that point, the CIA had been operating with the pretense that the United States was not involved in the war directly, for various reasons. All weapons supplied up to that point were non-U.S. sourced weapons, including Kalashnikov style assault rifles made in China and Egypt . The final say-so came down to President General Muhammad Zia-ul-Haq of Pakistan, through whom

4056-466: The Egyptian advance from Gaza northwards. On May 30, after un-assembled planes were strafed on the ground at Ekron airfield , the fighters were moved to makeshift strip located around the current Herzliya Airport . The airfield was used as it was a bit back from the front-lines, and was clandestine since it was a purpose built strip, that was constructed after the beginning of hostilities, in between

4160-511: The French government. During the recovery operation, a Libyan MiG-23MS was shot down by a FIM-92A. Tajik Islamist opposition forces operating from Afghanistan during the 1992–97 Tajik civil war encountered a heavy air campaign launched by Russia and Uzbekistan to prop up the government in Dushanbe that included border and cross-border raids. During one of these operations, a Sukhoi Su-24 M

4264-660: The Hamas-held Gaza Strip. In December 2008, the IAF spearheaded Operation Cast Lead , carrying out more than 2,360 air strikes. It had a principal role in destroying Hamas targets, and killed several senior Hamas commanders, including Said Seyam , Nizar Rayan , Tawfik Jaber , and Abu Zakaria al-Jamal . According to a CBS news report, in January 2009 Israeli planes struck a convoy of trucks in Sudan headed for Egypt and carrying weapons apparently meant for

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4368-453: The IAF began preparing for a pre-emptive strike against Egyptian and Syrian airfields and anti-aircraft positions. The Israeli government decided against pre-emption. IAF aircraft were therefore in the process of re-armament to the air-to-air role when Yom Kippur War hostilities began at 14:00. The next morning began with Operation Tagar , a SEAD offensive against Egyptian air defences, beginning with strikes against Egyptian air bases. Tagar

4472-495: The IAF carried out Operation Mole Cricket 19 , crippling the Syrian air defence array. In subsequent aerial battles against the Syrian Air Force , the IAF managed to shoot down 86 Syrian aircraft without losing a single fighter plane in an air-to-air combat. IAF AH-1 Cobra helicopter gunships destroyed dozens of Syrian armored fighting vehicles and other ground targets, including some T-72 main battle tanks . In

4576-702: The IAF carried out Operation Solomon which brought Ethiopian Jews to Israel. In 1993 and 1996, the IAF participated in Operation Accountability and Operation Grapes of Wrath , respectively. In the late 1990s, the IAF began acquiring the F-15I Ra'am (Thunder) and the F-16I Sufa (Storm), manufactured specially for Israel according to IAF requirements. The first of 102 F-16I Sufas arrived in April 2004, joining an F-16 fleet that had already been

4680-467: The IAF consisted of 25 Avia S-199s purchased from Czechoslovakia , essentially Czechoslovak -built Messerschmitt Bf 109s , and 60 Supermarine Spitfire LF Mk IXEs, the first of which, "Israel 1", was locally assembled from British abandoned spare parts and a salvaged engine from an Egyptian Air Force Spitfire, with most of the rest purchased from Czechoslovakia. Israel's new fighter-arm first went into action on May 29, 1948, assisting efforts to halt

4784-595: The IAF participated in Operation Accountability and Operation Grapes of Wrath , respectively. It has taken part in many operations since, including the 2006 Lebanon War , Operation Cast Lead , Operation Pillar of Cloud , Operation Protective Edge , Operation Guardian of the Walls and Operation Swords of Iron . On September 6, 2007, the Israeli Air Force successfully bombed an alleged Syrian nuclear reactor in Operation Orchard . The Israeli Air Force states

4888-738: The IAF participated in Operation Pillar of Defense , during which, according to the IDF Spokesperson , Israeli forces targeted more than 1,500 military sites in Gaza Strip, including rocket launching pads, smuggling tunnels, command centers, and weapons manufacturing and storage facilities. Many of these attacks were carried out by the Air Force. Between July 8 and August 5, 2014, the IAF participated in Operation Protective Edge , during which, according to

4992-633: The IAF was forced to operate under the SAM threat. Nevertheless, the close air support it provided allowed Israeli troops on the ground to stem the tide and eventually go on the offensive, first in the north and later in the south. After the failure of the Israeli counter-offensive in the Sinai on October 8, the southern front remained relatively static and the IAF focused its attention on the Syrian front. While A-4 Skyhawks provided much needed support to troops on

5096-482: The IAF was unhappy with its performance and no air combat kills were achieved with it during the Six-Day War , kills being made with guns instead. The improved Shafrir-2 was soon introduced in 1971, and it proved to be one of the most successful air-to-air missiles ever made. During the 1973 Yom Kippur War , the IAF launched 176 Shafrir-2 missiles, destroying 89 enemy aircraft. The Shafrir-2 was exported along with Israeli-made aircraft to South American countries. After

5200-462: The IAF's impressive performance in the Six-Day War, the Lyndon Johnson administration decided to sell F-4 Phantom fighters to Israel in 1968, marking the first sale of American military equipment to Israel. Shortly after the end of the Six-Day War, Egypt initiated the War of Attrition , hoping to prevent Israel from consolidating its hold over the lands captured in 1967. Israel's goal in

5304-541: The IDF Spokesperson, Israeli forces targeted 4,762 terror sites across the Gaza Strip, including rocket launching sites, command and control centers, military administration facilities, weapons storage and manufacturing facilities and training and military compounds. In May 2021, Israeli artillery and air force carried out 1,500 strikes on Gaza during Operation Guardian of the Walls . Starting in October 2023,

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5408-428: The Israeli Air Force carried out Operation Mole Cricket 19 , crippling Syrian air defences in Lebanon. On October 1, 1985, In response to a PLO terrorist attack which murdered three Israeli civilians in Cyprus , the Israeli air force carried out Operation Wooden Leg , bombing the PLO Headquarters in Tunis . In 1991, the IAF carried out Operation Solomon which brought Ethiopian Jews to Israel. In 1993 and 1996,

5512-421: The Israeli Air Force fulfilled a main role in the war against Hamas . The civil war raging within Israel's northern neighbor, has occasionally witnessed activity by the IAF, some overt, some unacknowledged and some merely attributed. Notable actions include: In the Israel–Gaza war beginning in October 2023, the IAF played a major role through its bombing of Gaza and subsequent support for ground troops in

5616-495: The Israeli Air Force participated in Operation Litani . On June 7, 1981, eight IAF F-16A fighters covered by six F-15A jets carried out Operation Opera to destroy the Iraqi nuclear facilities at Osiraq. Among the pilots who took part in the attack was Ilan Ramon , later Israel's first astronaut . Prior to the 1982 Lebanon War , Syria, with the help of the Soviet Union , had built up an overlapping network of surface-to-air missiles in Lebanon 's Beqaa Valley . On June 9, 1982,

5720-435: The Israeli Navy in capturing the Egyptian Navy destroyer Ibrahim el Awal , which had bombarded the Israeli city of Haifa – an airstrike damaged the Egyptian ship's engines, enabling Israeli ships to reach it and capture it. In three hours on the morning of June 5, 1967, the first day of the Six-Day War , the Israeli Air Force executed Operation Focus , crippling the opposing Arab air forces and attaining air supremacy for

5824-479: The Israelis. The Israeli Air Force played an important part in Operation Kadesh , Israel's part in the 1956 Suez Crisis . At the launch of the operation, on October 29, Israeli P-51D Mustangs , some using their propeller blades, severed telephone lines in the Sinai . 16 IAF DC-3s – escorted by fighters – dropped Israeli paratroopers behind Egyptian lines at the Mitla Pass and Et-Tur. The Israeli Air Force conducted attacks on Egyptian ground units and assisted

5928-414: The Mujahideen gunners used the supplied Stingers to score approximately 269 total aircraft kills in about 340 engagements, a 79% kill probability. If this report is accurate, Stingers would be responsible for over half of the 451 Soviet aircraft losses in Afghanistan . But these statistics are based on Mujahideen self-reporting, which is of unknown reliability. Selig Harrison rejects such figures, quoting

6032-424: The Shafrir-2, the new missiles made by Rafael were given the western name of Python . This is why the next missile built by Rafael in early 1970s was named Python-3, but there is no Python-1 or Python-2 (they were Shafrir-1, Shafrir-2). The Python-3 has improved range and all-aspect attack ability, it proved itself before and during the 1982 Lebanon War , destroying 35 enemy aircraft. The People's Republic of China

6136-449: The Stinger Basic, Stinger-Passive Optical Seeker Technique (POST), and Stinger-Reprogrammable Microprocessor (RMP). These correspond to the FIM-92A, FIM-92B, and FIM-92C and later variants respectively. The POST and RMP variants have a dual-detector seeker: IR and UV . This allows it to distinguish targets from countermeasures much better than the Redeye and FIM-92A, which have IR-only. While modern flares can have an IR signature that

6240-501: The Stinger as "just adding another component to the lethal mix we were building." Their increasingly successful Afghanistan strategy, formed largely by Michael G. Vickers , was based on a broad mix of weapons, tactics, and logistics, not a ' silver bullet solution' of a single weapon. Furthermore, the previous attempts to provide MANPADs to the Mujahideen, namely the SA-7 and Blowpipe , hadn't worked very well. Engineer Ghaffar, of Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 's Hezb-i-Islami , brought down

6344-410: The Stinger was a "turning point". Milt Bearden saw it as a " force multiplier " and morale booster. Representative Charlie Wilson, the politician behind Operation Cyclone, described the first Stinger Mi-24 shootdowns in 1986 as one of the three crucial moments of his experience in the war, saying "we never really won a set-piece battle before September 26, and then we never lost one afterwards." He

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6448-498: The Stinger. A contract for up to 8,000 missiles is planned to be awarded by 2026. The request for information to interested firms only went out in April 2022, and RTX and Lockheed Martin were selected to competitively develop the Stinger replacement in September 2023. According to Reuters, the U.S. government has signed a contract for 1,468 Stingers worth a total of $ 687 million, to replenish stock sent to Ukraine. Raytheon Chief Executive Greg Hayes said on 26 April 2022: "Some of

6552-423: The Syrians had been pushed back and beyond their initial lines, Damascus had come within range of Israeli artillery and an Iraqi armored brigade, the vanguard of its expeditionary force, was destroyed. On October 14 the Egyptian army launched an offensive along the entire front but was repulsed by the IDF . Israel followed on this success by attacking at the seam between the 2nd and 3rd Egyptian armies and crossing

6656-601: The U.S. Army in 1971 and designated FIM-92; the Stinger appellation was chosen in 1972. Because of technical difficulties that dogged testing, the first shoulder launch was not until mid-1975. Production of the FIM-92A began in 1978. An improved Stinger with a new seeker, the FIM-92B, was produced from 1983 alongside the FIM-92A. Production of both the A and B types ended in 1987 with around 16,000 missiles produced. The replacement FIM-92C began development in 1984, and production began in 1987. The first examples were delivered to frontline units in 1989. C-type missiles were fitted with

6760-416: The United States each stated that they would provide undisclosed amounts. By 7 March, the U.S. reported that it and its NATO allies had together sent more than 2,000 Stinger missiles to Ukraine. In late April 2022, Raytheon Technologies CEO Greg Hayes told investors that the company was experiencing supply chain issues and would not be able to ramp up production of Stinger missiles until 2023. This delay

6864-427: The United States. Among these are the A-4 Skyhawk , F-4 Phantom II , F-15 Eagle , F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-35 Lightning II . The Israeli Air Force has operated a number of domestically produced types such as the IAI Nesher , and later, the more advanced IAI Kfir . On June 7, 1981, eight IAF F-16s covered by six F-15s carried out Operation Opera to destroy the Iraqi nuclear facilities at Osiraq. On June 9, 1982,

6968-540: The attacks. The Israeli Air Force took an extensive part in IDF operations during the al-Aqsa Intifada , including the controversial targeted killings of Palestinian terrorist leaders, most notably Salah Shakhade , Ahmed Yassin and Abed al-Aziz Rantissi . While this policy was criticized due to the collateral damage caused in certain instances, Israel claims it is vital in its fight against terrorism and that IAF pilots do whatever they can to avoid civilian casualties, including aborting strikes. In 2007, Israel achieved

7072-426: The components are no longer commercially available, and so we're going to have to go out and redesign some of the electronics in the missile of the seeker head. That's going to take us a little bit of time". In January 2023, the U.S. Army said it expected to increase Stinger production to 60 missiles per month by 2025, an increase of 50% from the current rate. The Dual Detector Assembly (DDA) will be redesigned because

7176-470: The conflict. In the 2007 Operation Outside the Box , the Israeli Air Force attacked a suspected Syrian nuclear weapons site. The IAF used electronic warfare (EW) system to neutralize Syria's air defenses, feeding them a false sky-picture while IAF jets crossed much of Syria, bombed their targets and returned to Israel unchallenged. Since Hamas' takeover of Gaza in 2007, the Israeli Air Force has taken part in repeated bouts of violence between Israel and

7280-436: The decades since the war's official conclusion (including the conflict that followed ), the IAF has regularly conducted air strikes against targets in Southern Lebanon, namely Hezbollah positions. On October 1, 1985, the IAF carried out Operation Wooden Leg , which involved the bombing of the PLO Headquarters near Tunis . This was the longest combat mission ever undertaken by the IAF, traversing 2,300 kilometers. In 1991,

7384-433: The downloaded code runs from RAM, there is little space to spare, particularly for processors dedicated to seeker input processing and target analysis. The missile began as a program by General Dynamics to produce an improved variant of their 1967 FIM-43 Redeye . Production of the Redeye ran from 1969 to 1982, with a total production of around 85,000 missiles. The program was accepted for further development as Redeye II by

7488-418: The effectiveness of enemy flares. The Python-5 is currently the most capable visual range air-to-air missile in Israel's inventory. As a short range air-to-air missiles, it is capable of "lock-on after launch" (LOAL), and has full-sphere/all-direction (including rearward) attack ability. The missile features an advanced seeker which includes an electro-optical and imaging infrared homing seeker which scans

7592-630: The end of hostilities proved incomplete. The battery of a Stinger lasts for four or five years, so any battery supplied in the 1980s would now be inoperative but during the Syrian Civil War , insurgents showed how easily they switched to different batteries, including common car batteries, as power sources for several MANPADS models. The French army used 15 firing positions and 30 missiles purchased in 1983 for operations in Chad. The 35th Parachute Artillery Regiment made an unsuccessful fire during

7696-521: The end of the war, intensive air battles took place between Israeli and Egyptian aircraft. Official Israeli Air Force losses of the Yom Kippur War were 102 aircraft, including 32 F-4 Phantoms, 53 A-4 Skyhawks, 11 Dassault Mirages, and 6 IAI Sa'ars , although other accounts suggest as many as 128 Israeli aircraft were lost. 91 air force personnel, of which 53 were airmen, were killed. 172 Egyptian aircraft were shot down in air-to-air combat, for

7800-413: The ensuing invasion of the Gaza Strip . Thirty nine Israeli pilots have been credited with ace status, having shot down at least 5 enemy aircraft. Of these, 10 have shot down at least eight jet planes. The top ranking Israeli ace is Colonel Giora Epstein , who shot down seventeen enemy planes. Epstein holds the world record for jet aircraft shot down, and the most aircraft of any type shot down since

7904-419: The exams, the ruling was a watershed, opening doors for women in new IDF roles. After the prohibition had been lifted, the first female graduate was F-16 navigator "Shari" in 1998, followed three years later by Roni Zuckerman , the first female jet fighter pilot in IAF history. IAF ranks are identical to other Israel Defense Forces ranks . The rank insignia are identical except for the use of silver against

8008-727: The fighting was to exact heavy losses on the opposing side, in order to facilitate a ceasefire. The Israeli Air Force undertook repeated bombings of strategic targets deep within enemy territory and repeatedly challenged Arab air forces for aerial supremacy, while supporting operations by Israel's ground and naval forces. In late 1969 the Soviet Union began to deploy fighter aircraft units and surface-to-air missile units to Egypt. The Soviet surface-to-air missile units soon joined their Egyptian allies in direct confrontations with Israeli aircraft. Soviet fighters conducted patrols, but Israeli pilots were ordered not to engage them. On July 30, 1970,

8112-399: The first Hind gunship with a Stinger on 25 September 1986 near Jalalabad . As part of Operation Cyclone , the CIA eventually supplied nearly 500 Stingers (some sources claim 1,500–2,000) to the Mujahideen in Afghanistan, and 250 launchers. The impact of the Stinger on the outcome of the war is contested, particularly in the translation between the impact on the tactical battlefield to

8216-412: The following as its functions: The insignia / roundel of the Israeli Air Force consists of a blue Star of David on a white circle. Aircraft usually carry it painted in six positions – on the top and bottom of each wing, and on each side of the fuselage. A low-visibility variant – a blue Star of David without the white circle – exists, although its use is extremely rare. Squadron markings usually go on

8320-484: The ground, at the cost of 31 aircraft by the end of fourth day of the war, IAF Phantoms repeatedly struck Syrian air fields. Following Syrian FROG-7 strikes on military and civilian targets in northern Israel, the IAF initiated a campaign to destroy the infrastructure on which Syria's war-making capacity depended, targeting strategic targets in Syria such as its oil industry and electricity generating system. By October 13

8424-542: The largest outside the US Air Force. The IAF also purchased the advanced Israeli air-to-air missile Rafael Python 5 , with full-sphere capability, as well as a special version of the Apache Longbow , designated AH-64DI or Saraph . In 2005 the Israeli Air Force received modified Gulfstream V jets ("Nachshon"), equipped with advanced intelligence systems made by Israel Military Industries . By 2013 Israel became

8528-402: The missile with its launch tube and integral sight, fitted with a gripstock and identification friend or foe (IFF) antenna, weighs approximately 34 lb (15.2 kg). It has a targeting range of up to 15,700 feet (4,800 m) and can engage low-altitude enemy threats at up to 12,500 feet (3,800 m). The Stinger is launched by a small ejection motor that pushes it a safe distance from

8632-457: The missile's performance was so poor that work immediately started on the next improved version, the Shafrir-2. The Shafrir-2 was credited with 89 kills in the 1973 Yom Kippur War. During its whole service life, it is credited with a total of 106 kills. The Python-3 is a much-improved AAM with all-aspect attack ability, higher speed, range, and performance. It performed well before and during

8736-620: The missiles, along with night operation and terrain-hugging tactics to prevent the rebels from getting a clear shot. By 1988, Kuperman states, the Mujahideen had all but stopped firing them. Another source ( Jonathan Steele ) states that Stingers forced Soviet helicopters and ground attack planes to bomb from higher altitudes with less accuracy, but did not bring down many more aircraft than Chinese heavy machine guns and other less sophisticated anti-aircraft weaponry. The last Stingers were supplied in 1988 after increasing reports of fighters selling them to Iran and thawing relations with Moscow. After

8840-419: The operator before engaging the main two-stage solid-fuel sustainer, which accelerates it to a maximum speed of Mach 2.54 (1,930 mph; 864 m/s). The warhead contains 2.25 lb (1.02 kg) of HTA-3 (a mix of HMX , TNT , and aluminium powder) explosive with an impact fuze and a self-destruct timer that functions 17 seconds after launch. To fire the missile, a BCU (Battery Coolant Unit)

8944-425: The orange orchards around Herzliya, and did not appear on published maps. The Israeli Air Force scored its first aerial victories on June 3 when Modi Alon, flying Avia D.112, shot down two Egyptian Air Force DC-3s which had just bombed Tel Aviv . The first dogfight against enemy fighters took place a few days later, on June 8, when Gideon Lichtaman shot down an Egyptian Spitfire . During these initial operations,

9048-554: The remainder of the war. In a surprise attack, the IAF destroyed most of the Egyptian Air Force while its planes were still on the ground. By the end of the day, with surrounding Arab countries drawn into the fighting, the IAF had mauled the Syrian and Jordanian air forces, striking as far as Iraq . After six days of fighting, Israel claimed a total of 452 Arab aircraft destroyed, of which 49 were aerial victories. After

9152-569: The second day of the war, resulted in the IAF destroying 59 Iranian -supplied medium- and long-range missile launchers in just 34 minutes. Widespread condemnation followed the July 30 IAF airstrike on a building suspected to be a militant hideout near the village of Qana, in which 28 civilians were killed. Hezbollah shot down an IAF CH-53 Yas'ur helicopter on the last day of the war, killing five crew members. Israeli aircraft shot down three of Hezbollah's Iranian -made aerial drones during

9256-488: The sensor and the software, improving the missile's performance against low-signature targets. A software upgrade in 2001 was designated FIM-92F. The development of the Stinger RMP Block II began in 1996 using a new focal plane array sensor to improve the missile's effectiveness in "high clutter" environments and increase the engagement range to about 25,000 feet (7,600 m). Production was scheduled for 2004, but

9360-490: The spring of 1989, the complete domestic Chinese built missile received state certification. The major supplier of the missile was Xi'an Eastern Machinery Factory (西安东方机械厂) located at Xi'an , and China is also reported to have developed a helmet-mounted sight (HMS) system for the PL-8. The Python-4 is a 4th generation AAM with all-aspect attack ability, and integration with a helmet-mounted sight (HMS) system. It entered service in

9464-493: The squadron operated with a few planes versus almost complete Arab theater air supremacy . The airplanes were parked dispersed between the orange trees. The fighters were moved in October to Hatzor Airbase from the Herzliya strip due to its unsuitability in rainy conditions, probable loss of clandestine status, moving front lines which made former British bases safe for use, and a shift in the balance of air superiority towards

9568-504: The strategic level withdrawal, and the influence the first had on the second. Dr. Robert F. Baumann (of the Staff College at Fort Leavenworth ) described its impact on "Soviet tactical operations" as "unmistakable". This opinion was shared by Yossef Bodansky. Soviet, and later, Russian, accounts give little significance to the Stinger for strategically ending the war. According to the 1993 U.S. Air Defense Artillery Yearbook,

9672-731: The tail fin. Forerunners of the Israeli Air Force were Sherut Avir , the air wing of the Haganah , and the Palestine Flying Service established by the Irgun in 1937. The Israeli Air Force formed on May 28, 1948, shortly after Israel declared statehood and found itself under attack . The force consisted of a hodge-podge of commandeered or donated civilian aircraft converted to military use. A variety of obsolete and surplus ex- World War II combat-aircraft were quickly sourced by various means to supplement this fleet. The backbone of

9776-463: The target area for hostile aircraft, then locks-on for terminal chase, and a complex design utilizing a total of eighteen aerodynamic surfaces. The Python-5 was first used in combat during the 2006 Lebanon War , when it was used by F-16 Fighting Falcons to destroy two Iranian-made Ababil UAVs used by the Hezbollah . On 13 May 2021, an Israeli F-16 shot down a Hamas operated Shehab suicide drone with

9880-600: The target. The FIM-92B missile can also be fired from the M1097 Avenger and the M6 Linebacker . The missile is also capable of being deployed from a Humvee Stinger rack and can be used by airborne troops. A helicopter launched version exists and is called Air-to-Air Stinger (ATAS). The missile is 5.0 ft (1.52 m) long and 2.8 in (70 mm) in diameter, with 3.9 in (100 mm) fins. The missile itself weighs 22 lb (10.1 kg), while

9984-607: The tension peaked: An IAF ambush resulted in a large scale air brawl between IAF planes and MiGs flown by Soviet pilots—five MiGs were shot down, while the IAF suffered no losses. Fear of further escalation and superpower involvement brought the war to a conclusion. By the end of August 1970, the Israeli Air Force had claimed 111 aerial kills while reporting losing only four aircraft to Arab fighters. Egyptian and Soviet forces claimed to shoot down approximately 20 Israeli Air Force planes with surface-to-air missile and anti-aircraft artillery units. On October 6, 1973, with war imminent,

10088-481: The world's largest exporter of drones . In December 2016, Israel received its first pair of F-35 Lightning II from the United States. Three months after the assassination of the leader of Hezbollah , Abbas al-Musawi , the IAF launched an offensive across South Lebanon with five air raids in six days. Some of the targets struck were as far north as Baalbek . On the final day, 26 May 1992, there were more than 40 missile strikes. Over 20 civilians were killed during

10192-870: Was cancelled due to budget cuts. Since 1984 the Stinger has been issued to many U.S. Navy warships for point defense , particularly in Middle Eastern waters, with a three-man team that can perform other duties when not conducting Stinger training or maintenance. Until it was decommissioned in September 1993, the U.S. Navy had at least one Stinger Gunnery Detachment attached to Beachmaster Unit Two in Little Creek Virginia. The sailors of this detachment would deploy to carrier battlegroups in teams of two to four sailors per ship as requested by Battle Group Commanders. The original Stinger's reprogrammable microprocessor has become obsolete in 2023, and

10296-426: Was given the first spent Stinger tube as a gift and kept it on his office wall. That launch tube is now on exhibit at the U.S. Army Air Defense Artillery Museum, Fort Sill, Oklahoma. Other military analysts tend to be dismissive of the impact of the Stinger. According to Alan J. Kuperman , the Stingers did make an impact at first but within a few months flares, beacons, and exhaust baffles were installed to disorient

10400-579: Was impressed with its performance and license-built the Python-3 as the PiLi-8 (PL-8) AAM . Further improvements to the Python-3 led to the development of Python-4 in mid-1980s, which added the option for helmet-sight guidance. In the 1990s Rafael started development on the Python-5 AAM, which was equipped with an advanced electro-optical imaging seeker with lock-on after-launch ability. The new missile

10504-502: Was quickly discontinued when the dire situation on the Golan Heights became apparent. IAF efforts were redirected north, where the ill-fated Operation Model 5 was carried out. Flying with outdated intelligence and no electronic screening against mobile SAM batteries and heavy flak, 6 IAF Phantoms were lost. The sustained campaign required to defeat enemy air defences was abandoned in the face of Egyptian and Syrian advances and

10608-564: Was shot down on 3 May 1993 with a Stinger fired by the opposition. Both Russian pilots were rescued. Russian officials claimed several times that the Chechen militia and insurgents possessed US-made Stinger missiles. They attributed a few of their aerial losses to the American MANPADS. The presence of such missiles was confirmed by photo evidence, and were said to originate from Afghan smuggling routes that passed through Georgia. It

10712-544: Was show-cased in 2003 Paris Air Show , and intended for service with IAF the F-15I Ra'am ("Thunder") and the F-16I Sufa ("Storm"). The Python-5 is said to have full sphere launch ability or is an all-aspect missile, meaning it can be launched at a target regardless of the target's location relative to the direction of the launching aircraft. It can lock onto targets after launch, even when they are up to 100 degrees off

10816-668: Was used to support different US-aligned guerrilla forces, notably the Afghan Mujahidins, the Chad government against the Libyan invasion and the Angolan UNITA. The Nicaraguan contras were not provided with Stingers due to the lack of fixed wing aircraft of the Sandinista government, as such the previous generation FIM-43 Redeye was considered adequate. In the Syrian civil war , Turkey reportedly helped to transport

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