T
HE ISRAELI AIR Force held
its air force commanders
conference during the week
of May 22 as part of events
to mark 70 years of Israeli
independence. The last such
occasion took place in 1998 as part of
the 50-year celebrations.
High-ranking air force o cials from more
than 20 nations included US Air Forces in
Europe commander Gen Tod Walters, as
well as others from Austria, Belgium, Brazil,
Bulgaria, Canada, Croatia, Cyprus, the
Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, India, Italy, the Netherlands,
Poland, Romania, the UK and Vietnam.
The rst day of the conference in
Herzeliya included opening remarks from
IAF commander Gen Amikam Norkin that
sparked headlines as he revealed thatIAF F-35I Adirs had been used in combat
operations and had delivered munitions,
without disclosing speci c details.
Additionally he presented a photo of an
F-35I ying over the coast of Beirut. The
Israeli Air Force is currently debating its
next procurement round of ghters, with
reports that it is leaning towards a batch of
Advanced F-15s from Boeing.
The senior o cers also visited Tel Nof Air
Base and were o ered the chance to y
in one of the new M-346 Lavi advanced
trainers from 102 ‘Flying Tigers’ Squadron,
which had deployed en masse from
Hatzerim for the event.
The various commanders met with
Israel’s President Rubi Rivlin, the
whole event being designed to help
strengthen relations as well as boosting
interoperability in the region.The Israeli Air Force recently held a commanders’ conference,
which afforded senior air force offi cers the chance to fl y in the
new M-346 Lavi advanced trainers.REPORT AND PHOTOS Yissachar Ruas
ISRAEL’S
LEADERSHIP FORUM
Above: Lavis of
102 ‘Flying Tigers’
Squadron, which
sent 20 of its aircraft
to Tel Nof for the
conference.
This image: 102
Squadron is marking
its 50th anniversary
and its jets carry a
commemorative logo
atop the fi n.SPECIAL REPORT // COMMANDERS’ CONFERENCE
52 August 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net
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