Ramon Airbase

The Ramon Airbase was built between 1979 and 1982, together with Nevatim and Ovda Airbase, by US companies in southern Israel – as a replacement for the four Israeli bases on the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt that were abandoned after the Camp David Accords in September 1978 (see the map below also).^[1]

Abandoned IAF airbases on Sinai:

• Eitam Airbase (today: El Gora Airport)^[2]
• Etzion Airbase (today: Taba International Airport)^[3]
• Ofira Airbase (today: Sharm El Sheikh International Airport)^[4]
• Refidim Airbase (today: Bardawil International Airport at El Hassana)^[5]

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  Anwar Sadat, Jimmy Carter and Menachem Begin (left to right) at Camp David in September 1978
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  IAF bases abandoned on the Sinai Peninsula (red) and newly built in southern Israel (blue)

The area for the airbase contained Iron Age sites and a former army firing range, both of which required further investigation, because of archaeological artifacts and unexploded bombs. The Ramon and Ovda airbases are very similar in their structure and construction.

After its completion, it took over some of the aircraft stationed at the four Sinai bases, on the one hand A-4H/N Skyhawk Ayit light strike fighters and on the other hand F-16A/B Netz fighter jets.^[6][7]

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  Two A-4 Skyhawk Ayit, A-4N and A-4H (left to right), 147 Squadron "Goring Ram", the A-4 was on Ramon based also
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  A F-16A Netz of 116 Squadron "Defenders Of The South", in the beginning based on Ramon

In September 1990, the first AH-64A Apache Peten attack helicopters arrived at Ramon, joined in 2005 by the improved AH-64D Apache Longbow Saraf. They were absorbed by 113 Squadron "Hornet" and 190 Squadron "Magic Touch" (see also "Units").^[8][9]

In January 2005, the 119 Squadron "Bat" at Ramon was the first to fly the new F-16I Sufa jet adapted to Israeli needs. Shortly afterwards, the 253 Squadron "Negev" and the 201 Squadron "The One" there were also equipped with F-16I jets (see also "Units").^[10][7][6]

On 6 September 2007, in Operation Outside the Box, four F-15I Ra'am of the "Hammers" Squadron from Hatzerim Airbase and four F-16Is from Ramon attacked an almost completed nuclear reactor in Syria and destroyed it in order to prevent Syria from building its own nuclear bombs (see gallery directly below).^[11]

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  The Syrian nuclear reactor before and after destruction by Operation Outside the Box in 2007
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  F-16I Sufa jets of 119 Squadron "Bat" from Ramon, involved in Operation Outside the Box 2007

In the heart of the Negev desert lies one of the most active and powerful bases of the IAF. Equipped with three squadrons of F-16I Sufa fighter jets and two squadrons of AH-64A/D Apache (Longbow) Peten/Saraf attack helicopters, the Ramon Airbase is able to respond to and combat threats of all kinds around the clock. The weapons systems used are always ready for use and kept up to date.^[12][13]

To ensure the success of missions, constant training is essential, both day and night. The extensive areas of the Negev desert in the vicinity of the airbase offer the best conditions for this, e.g. in and around the huge erosion crater Makhtesh Ramon, which begins a few kilometers to the south (see photos in the gallery below). International partners with their fighter jets are regularly invited to take part in exercises, e.g. in the Blue Flag exercise that takes place every two years at the Ovda Airbase about 90 kilometers to the south, which itself is only home to one aggressor training squadron.

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  Mount Ardon in the middle of the Makhtesh Ramon, ideal training area for IAF jets
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  ATC Tower at Ramon Airbase in 2018
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  Change of command ceremony at Ramon Airbase in June 2020
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  IAF commander Tomer Bar (centre) inducts new Ramon commander Nadav Bar (left), August 2024

For many years there have been considerations of purchasing new AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters from Boeing, but this has so far failed due to the costs.^[14][15] At the same time, the IAF's UAVs have been continually developed, as are those stationed at the Palmachim Airbase, among others. These UAVs have two major advantages over helicopters when they do not have to be used for transport: they are much cheaper to purchase and maintain, and the lives of pilots are not put at risk.

• 113 Squadron "Hornet" – operating AH-64D Apache Longbow Saraf^[9]
• 119 Squadron "Bat" – operating F-16I Sufa^[10]
• 190 Squadron "Magic Touch" – operating AH-64A Apache Peten^[8]
• 201 Squadron "The One" – operating F-16I Sufa^[6]
• 253 Squadron "Negev" – operating F-16I Sufa^[7]
• Special units of the IDF: Sky Rider Unit, Meitar Unit and David's Sling Brigade

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  An AH-64D Apache Longbow Saraf of 113 Squadron "Hornet" during an exercise
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  An F-16I Sufa of 119 Squadron "Bat" starts with full afterburner
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  An AH-64A Apache Peten of 190 Squadron "Magic Touch" of Ramon on display
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  An F-16I Sufa of 201 Squadron "The One" about to land, based at Ramon
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  An F-16I Sufa of 253 Squadron "Negev" during an exercise, based at Ramon
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  The Sky Rider Unit in action with a small Skylark UAV

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

 

• On 29 April 1964, a Nord Noratlas 2501D of the IAF (Aircraft registration 4X-FAD/044) flew into a mountain near the Ramon Airbase. In this CFIT (Controlled flight into terrain) all 9 occupants were killed, the two pilots and the 7 passengers. It was the former GC+231 of the German Air Force.^[16]

• In May 1983, an F-15D Eagle Baz and a A-4 Skyhawk Ayit collided in mid-air during an exercise over the Negev Desert in southern Israel. While the A-4 pilot ejected, the two-seat F-15D managed to land safely at the nearby Ramon base, although its right wing was almost completely torn off in the collision. This was only possible because the F-15 pilot turned on the afterburners, compensating for the lack of lift. The landing took place at about twice the normal speed, and the jet only came to a stop shortly before the end of the runway.^[17]

• On 19 July 2006, during the Second Lebanon War, an F-16I Sufa of the 119 Squadron "Bat" crash-landed on the Ramon runway. The pilot and navigator were rescued, but the aircraft was so badly damaged that it could not be repaired.^[18]

• On 10 November 2010, an F-16I Sufa of the 119 Squadron "Bat" crashed over the Makhtesh Ramon during an exercise. The pilot and navigator died in the crash. It was the second crash of this type of aircraft in the IAF.^[19]

• On 5 October 2016, an F-16I Sufa from 119 Squadron crashed while landing at the base. As a result of the crash, the pilot was killed. The navigator saved himself with the ejector seat and was only slightly injured.^[20]

• On 7 August 2017, a AH-64 Apache attack helicopter crashed right at the Ramon Airbase while returning from an exercise and after reporting a technical fault. One pilot was killed and the other seriously injured. As a result, all IAF Apaches were grounded for almost two months. The reason for the crash was determined to be the failure of a control joystick.^[21][22]

• On 10 February 2018, an Israeli F-16I Sufa was shot down by the Syrian air defenses after conducting an air raid on Iran-backed positions inside Syrian territory. The pilot and the navigator could eject and were injured. The jet crashed into a hillside near kibbutz Harduf in northern Israel, which lost its first warplane in 35 years by hostile action.^[23]

• During the Iranian attack on Israel in the night of 13-14 April 2024, four of nine ballistic missiles that overcame Israeli air defenses hit the airbase without causing any publicly known damage.^[24]

• List of airports in Israel

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ramon IAF base.

• Ramon Airbase and Mitzpe Ramon Airfield at airports-worldwide.com