Israeli paratroopers, made their way west toward their target. Making
their approach carefully in order not to be spotted beforehand, the
troops surprised the light security contingent at the radar installation
and quickly took control of the site. By 2:00 A.M. on 27 December, the
paratroopers had dismantled the radar station and prepared the various
parts for the CH-53s, and the two Yasurs were called in from across
the Red Sea. One CH-53 carried the communications caravan and the
radar antenna, while the other took the heavier, four-ton radar itself.
The two helicopters started making their way back across the Red Sea
to Israeli-controlled territory.
The four-ton radar caravan was actually heavier than the weight
the CH-53 was designed to carry, and soon the safe completion of the
operation was imperiled. The cables connecting the radar to the heli-
copter were stretching the ribs of the aircraft, which in turn caused a
hydraulic line to rupture. If the captain of the helicopter did not re-
lease the radar, he was in danger of losing control of the aircraft and
crashing; however, he managed to nurse the aircraft across the wa-
terline into Israel. With the last of its hydraulic pressure remaining,
the helicopter set down the radar and landed beside it. The second
CH-53, which had already delivered its lighter load, was sent back to
retrieve the radar from the crash-landing site. Again the heavy load
almost caused the other helicopter to crash, but the radar was finally
delivered to the designated point, into the hands of awaiting intelli-
gence specialists.
Although an attempt was made to conceal the successful mission,
the operation became known a week after it took place following its
publication in the foreign press. The radar was studied thoroughly
and provided the IAF with new countermeasures against the Egypt-
ian air defenses, removing a threat to Israeli air superiority over the
Suez Canal. It was later handed over to the United States, like other
equipment captured in the past.ROTEM AFFAIR.See ASSESSMENT FAILURES.– S –
SAFADI, HAMOUD.SeeGRABLI, RAPHAEL.240 • ROTEM AFFAIR06-102 (04) Q-Z.qxd 3/24/06 7:25 AM Page 240