Nevatim Airbase

It was built as a rough runway in 1947 for the Sherut Avir, the air wing of the Haganah, and was named Malhata after the archaeological site on which it was partly built. It was reopened in 1983 as a new modern airbase with two runways as the result of joint Israeli and US government funding as part of the IAF's redeployment out of its bases in the Sinai after it was returned to Egypt following the Camp David Accords.

The F-16A Squadron 140 “Golden Eagle”, transferred from the abandoned Etzion Airbase to Nevatim, was on Operation Opera, involved in the attack and destruction of the Iraqi nuclear reactor on June 7, 1981. Since 2003 the base has gradually received more squadrons of F-16s. A third runway was built in the mid-2000s decade as part of a project to accommodate the transfer of military activities previously taking place at Ben Gurion Airport (Air Force Base 27) to Nevatim. All F-16s were retired in the mid-2010s.

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  Bases abandoned in the Sinai Peninsula (red) and newly built in southern Israel (blue)
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  A retired F-16A Netz of 140th Squadron "Golden Eagle", involved in Operation Opera
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  A sculpture of 140th Squadron "Golden Eagle" at Nevatim Airbase
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  Building on Nevatim Airbase erected by US companies
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  ATC tower on Nevatim Airbase near the southern runway
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  Map of the Nevatim Airbase with details and directions

The first F-35I Adir fighter jets arrived at Nevatim in December 2016, declared operational a year later and the first combat mission was flown in May 2018. There are now three growing squadrons of these, which will ultimately comprise 75 machines. At the same time, a flight simulator was also installed for pilot training.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]

While transport and tanker aircraft as well as reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft are stationed on the southern area of the airbase with one runway, the northern area with its two runways is reserved for the three squadrons with F-35I fighter jets. Two other runways located there are no longer in operation.

The Boeing 707 Re'em tanker aircraft stationed on Nevatim will be gradually replaced by the newer Boeing KC-46A Pegasus. At the beginning of 2021, Israel signed a preliminary contract for initially two tanker aircraft; in the medium term, up to eight examples are planned, which are to be delivered from around 2025.[8][9][10]

The Nevatim Airbase is also the home base of the so-called Israeli Air Force One, a converted Boeing 767 for international visits by the President of Israel or the Prime Minister. Officially called Wing of Zion, it is operated by the IAF and has its own hangar on Nevatim (see map and image in the galleries). The purchase and maintenance of this machine are very controversial in Israel, which led to it being shut down before it was put into operation in 2022.[11]

Since the international Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv has been reaching its capacity limits for years, there are considerations to convert one of Israel's military airbases completely or partially into a civilian airport or to expand it accordingly. In addition to a complete conversion of the Ramat David Airbase in the north of Israel, a dual use of the Nevatim Airbase is being discussed, as it could be expanded without major problems because it is surrounded by desert. The proximity to the growing city Beersheba (around 20 km) also speaks for this. The IAF is against this proposal as it believes it would restrict military flight movements too much.[12]

• 103rd Squadron "Elephants" – operating the C-130J Super Hercules Shimshon
• 116th Squadron "Lions Of The South" – operating the F-35I Adir
• 117th Squadron "First Jet" – operating the F-35I Adir for pilot training[13]
• 120th Squadron "Desert Giants" – operating the Boeing 707 Re'em as a flying tanker
• 122nd Squadron "Nachshon" – operating the GV Shavit and G550 Eitam & Oron as SEMA/CAEW/ELINT/COMINT planes
• 131st Squadron "Knights Of The Yellow Bird" – operating the C-130H Hercules Karnaf
• 140th Squadron "Golden Eagle" – operating the F-35I Adir
• Operating the Wing of Zion with its own hangar aka Israeli Air Force One[11]

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  C-130J Super Hercules Shimshon of 103rd Squadron "Elephants" in February 2023
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  Two F-35I Adir of 116th Squadron "The Southern Lions" (lion symbol at tail) from Nevatim
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  A F-35I Adir of 117th Squadron "First Jet" (jet-in-the-crosshairs symbol) at the reopening
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  A Boeing 707 Re'em refueling a C-130H Hercules Karnaf of Squadrons 120 & 131
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  A GV Shavit (bottom left) and a G550 Eitam of 122nd Squadron "Nachshon", May 2016
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  A newly arrived G550 Oron for 122nd Squadron on Nevatim Airbase, April 2021
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  A F-35I Adir of 140th Squadron "Golden Eagle" (see eagle symbol) in its shelter
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  Boeing KC-46 Pegasus tankers will replace the aging 707s of Nevatim in the coming years
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  The Wing of Zion aka Israeli Air Force One has its own hangar on Nevatim

Note: IAF aircraft can usually be assigned to their squadron by the symbols on the tail or the air intakes

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nevatim IAF base.

• Nevatim from globalsecurity.org
• Aeroflight World Airforces