Israeli Air Force fleets grounded for weeks, efficiency taking a hit
4 Min Read
Israeli media says several fleets within the Air Forces have been grounded for weeks as their efficacy deteriorates.
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An Israeli Air Force F-35 warplane flies over during a graduation ceremony for new pilots in Hatzerim Air Force base near the southern Palestinian city of Beer Al-Sabe, Occupied Palestine, June 29, 2023 (AP)
Israeli media sources have reported a concerning decline in the operational efficiency of the Israeli Air Force, with experts highlighting growing issues in both active deployments and the command center of the Air Force.
Israeli Channel 13 military affairs analyst Alon Ben David has drawn attention to the declining capabilities of the Israeli occupation.
Ben David said Israeli occupation Security Minister Yoav Gallant claiming responsibility for the attacks waged on Syria appears to be in a bid to show that the Air Force remains operational.
While the Air Force is still technically capable of conducting operations, there are mounting concerns about a significant reduction in active deployments, with many air squadrons remaining grounded for the past seven weeks, resulting in an operational effectiveness crisis.
Ben David emphasized that despite the existing constraints, the Air Force possesses the capacity to carry out operations like those targeting Syria. However, the prolonged inactivity at the Air Force command center has raised questions about the unit's overall preparedness.
In assessing the recent airstrikes on Syria, Ben David noted that such endeavors "do not represent a substantial undertaking for the Israeli Air Force, given the frequency of such operations."
"Israel has conducted 25 airstrikes on Syria since the beginning of this year, indicating a recurring pattern of engagement," he said, citing reports.
Israeli retired Major General Yitzhak Brick criticized the Air Force in late August, saying the IOF put all their eggs in one basket when it came to the Air Force over the past few years.
In an interview with Israeli radio, Brick emphasized the issues confronting the Israeli Air Force.
He expressed concern over neglecting the development of essential supplementary systems like missile weaponry and laser systems, while "sucking the army dry."
Brick stressed that while the Air Force possesses skilled pilots and new aircraft, preparations for upcoming conflicts have not been adequately addressed, leaving the Air Force vulnerable to becoming a strategic target for adversaries.
"Around 3,500 missiles are projected to target Israel daily, in addition to numerous UAVs," he said. "The Israeli air force would be the primary target, with heavy and precision missiles aimed at runways or their vicinity, crippling operational capabilities."
He recalled the impact of the October 1973 war, when the Israeli Air Force was dealt a significant blow from which it hasn't fully recovered.
Israeli media reported in July that the Israeli occupation Air Force is under shock, as 1,142 reservists, including 513 pilots, announced their intention to suspend their volunteering if the judicial overhaul was approved.
Read more: Israeli reservists' resignation prompts controversy, condemnation
"The [judicial overhaul] legislation, which allows the government to act in an extremely unreasonable manner, will harm the security" of "Israel", the reservists indicated in a letter sent to Knesset members, Israeli occupation army Chief of Staff Herzi Halevi, and Air Force Commander Tomer Bar.
Israeli media suggested that the Israeli occupation Air Force is losing its eligibility for war and facing its largest crisis so far, warning that the Air Force may be out of operational competence in a short time.
According to the Israeli media, these reservists talk in closed circles about their great disappointment with Halevi and Bar because they do not report about the division in the Air Force and the reserves to Israeli occupation Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Security Minister Yoav Gallant, which generated a major crisis of confidence in them.
The media pointed out that in order to bridge the ongoing gap, the Israeli occupation Air Force is making a series of adjustments within squadrons and missions to minimize the damage to operational readiness.
