Palmachim Airbase (, ) is an Israeli Air Force (IAF) base and

spaceport A spaceport or cosmodrome is a site for launching or receiving spacecraft, by analogy to a seaport for ships or an airport for aircraft. The word ''spaceport''—and even more so ''cosmodrome''—has traditionally referred to sites capable of ...

, which the IAF and the Israel Space Agency (ISA) operate jointly. It is located west of the city of

Yavne Yavne () is a city in the Central District (Israel), Central District of Israel. In 2022, it had a population of 56,232. Modern Yavne was established in 1949. It is located near the ruins of the ancient town of Yibna (known also as Jamnia and Jab ...

on the

Mediterranean The Mediterranean Sea ( ) is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the east by the Levant in West Asia, on the north by Anatolia in West Asia and Southern ...

coast, 12 km south of the Gush Dan metropolitan area with

Tel Aviv Tel Aviv-Yafo ( or , ; ), sometimes rendered as Tel Aviv-Jaffa, and usually referred to as just Tel Aviv, is the most populous city in the Gush Dan metropolitan area of Israel. Located on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline and with a popula ...

, named after the

Kibbutz A kibbutz ( / , ; : kibbutzim / ) is an intentional community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. The first kibbutz, established in 1910, was Degania Alef, Degania. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economi ...

Palmachim Palmachim () is a kibbutz in central Israel. Located about ten kilometers south of the Gush Dan, Tel Aviv area along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea, among the sand dunes, it falls under the jurisdiction of Gan Raveh Regional Council. In it h ...

a few hundred meters to the north. There are no fighter jets stationed there, but transport helicopters, UAVs and a battery of Arrow defense missiles southeast of it.

History

The airbase was established in the second half of the 1960s by the later commander of the IAF Benny Peled and the area was initially used to test rockets and projectiles that the 151 Squadron for missile testing was firing towards the sea.

Helicopters

* In 1975, the 160 Squadron "First Cobra" was established with new AH-1 Cobra ''Tzefa'' attack helicopters (see photo in gallery below) at Tel Nof Airbase. * In 1979, the 160 Squadron "First Cobra (later Southern Cobra)" with its Cobra attack helicopters was relocated from Tel Nof to Palmachim. * In 1981, the 124 Squadron "Rolling Sword" with Bell 212 Iroquois ''Anafa'' helicopters (see photo in gallery below) moved from Tel Nof to Palmachim also. * In 1985, the 161 Squadron "Northern Cobra" was launched as the second Cobra squadron at Palmachim, both in the northern area of the base. Because of their location on the airbase they were then called the "Northern Cobra" and "Southern Cobra" Squadron (see map also). In 2013, both Cobra squadrons were finally decommissioned. The 124 Squadron "Rolling Sword" was founded in the 1950s at Tel Nof Airbase as the first helicopter squadron in Israel and flew, among others, the Sikorsky S-55 from 1956 and the slightly larger Sikorsky S-58 from 1958. In 1962, the then German Defense Minister Franz Josef Strauß sold 24 modern S-58 to Israel, which were then supplemented and finally replaced by

Bell 205 The Bell 204 and 205 are the civilian versions of the UH-1 Iroquois single-engine military helicopter of the Huey family of helicopters. They are type-certificated in the transport category and are used in a wide variety of applications, i ...

(UH-1D/H) helicopters from the end of the 1960s, as some S-58 had been lost in the

Six-Day War The Six-Day War, also known as the June War, 1967 Arab–Israeli War or Third Arab–Israeli War, was fought between Israel and a coalition of Arab world, Arab states, primarily United Arab Republic, Egypt, Syria, and Jordan from 5 to 10June ...

in 1967. However, as the single-engine Bell 205 increasingly had problems in the desert climate – and many did not survive the

Yom Kippur War The Yom Kippur War, also known as the Ramadan War, the October War, the 1973 Arab–Israeli War, or the Fourth Arab–Israeli War, was fought from 6 to 25 October 1973 between Israel and a coalition of Arab world, Arab states led by Egypt and S ...

in 1973 – they were replaced by

Bell 212 The Bell 212 (also known as the ''Bell Two-Twelve'') is a two-blade, twin-engine, medium helicopter that first flew in 1968. Originally manufactured by Bell Helicopter in Fort Worth, Texas, United States, production was moved to Mirabel, Queb ...

(UH-1N) helicopters, which had two turbines and were therefore more powerful and more durable. In 1981, the helicopter squadron moved to Palmachim with its Bell 212 machines. Hatzerim 310313 S-55.jpg, A Sikorsky S-55 of the IAF from the 1950s at the Israeli Air Force Museum near

Hatzerim Airbase Hatzerim Airbase (, ''Basis Heil HaAvir Hatzerim'', ''lit.'' Homesteads) is an Israeli Air Force, Israeli Air Force (IAF) base on the northern edge of the Negev, Negev desert in the Southern District (Israel), Southern District of Israel, 6&nbs ...

Beersheba (997009452323105171) 16-9.jpg, A Sikorsky S-58 of 124 Squadron "Rolling Sword" at

Beersheba Beersheba ( / ; ), officially Be'er-Sheva, is the largest city in the Negev desert of southern Israel. Often referred to as the "Capital of the Negev", it is the centre of the fourth-most populous metropolitan area in Israel, the eighth-most p ...

in 1962, based on Tel Nof Airbase Following the terror activity along the Jordan border, IDF units are on alert searching the area for terrorists (FL63092332).jpg, A Bell 212 Iroquois ''Anafa'' (2 turbines) of 124 Squadron "Rolling Sword" from Palmachim Airbase in 1982 Dargot 28062011 AH-1 (remix).jpg, Have been based on Palmachim from 1979 until 2013: AH-1 Cobra ''Tzefa'' attack helicopters * In 1994, 124 Squadron "Rolling Sword" on Palmachim received its first

UH-60 Black Hawk The Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk is a four-blade, twin-engine, medium-lift military utility helicopter manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. Sikorsky submitted a design for the United States Army's Utility Tactical Transport Aircraft System (UTTAS) ...

''Yanshuf'' transport helicopters. Later the squadron also received the civil version, called S-70A, for military use. * In 2002, 123 Squadron "Desert Birds" was re-established at

with new UH-60 Black Hawk ''Yanshuf'' transport helicopters. * In 2015, 123 Squadron "Desert Birds" moved from Hatzerim to Palmachim Airbase. Currently (2025), two squadrons of

''Yanshuf'' are stationed at the base (see also under "

Units Unit may refer to: General measurement * Unit of measurement, a definite magnitude of a physical quantity, defined and adopted by convention or by law **International System of Units (SI), modern form of the metric system **English units, histo ...

"). These are used for troop transport as well as for rescue missions by Unit 669 - heliborne Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), which is based both on Tel Nof Airbase with its CH-53D Sea Stallion ''Yasʿur'' there and on Palmachim with its Black Hawk.

UAVs

Israel was an early adopter of drone development and became one of the leading nations in this field alongside the USA. The Palmachim Airbase played a special role in this. The 200 Squadron "First UAV" was founded here in 1971 and initially used US drones such as the

Ryan Firebee The Ryan Firebee is a series of target drones developed by the Ryan Aeronautical, Ryan Aeronautical Company beginning in 1951. It was one of the first Jet engine, jet-propelled drones, and remains one of the most widely used target drones ever b ...

''Mabat'' and the Northrop BQM-74 Chukar ''Telem''. But in the course of the 1970s, Israel developed its own models such as the Tadiran Mastiff, the IAI Scout ''Oriole'' and later the AAI RQ-2 Pioneer and IAI Searcher ''Hugla'', all of which were used for reconnaissance flights – especially over contested areas. Teledyne-Ryan-Firebee-II-hatzerim-1.jpg, The

''Mabat'' UAV of 200 Squadron "First UAV" (see tail) was in use from 1971,

Hatzerim Hatzerim (, ''lit.'' Farmyards) is a kibbutz located 8 kilometers west of Beersheba in the Negev desert in Israel. It is named after the Bible (Deuteronomy 2:23), mentioning a site nearby: "the Avvites who lived in farmyards as far as Gaza". It b ...

in 2006 Northrop-MQM-74A-hatzerim-1.jpg, The Northrop BQM-74 Chukar ''Telem'' UAV of 200 Squadron "First UAV", also in use from 1971, here in 2006 Tadiran-Mastiff-III-hatzerim-1.jpg, Tadiran Mastiff UAV of 200 Squadron "First UAV", now in the IAF Museum near

in 2006 IAIScout.jpg, An IAI Scout ''Oriole'' UAV (front), a further development of the Mastiff, at an exhibition in 2008 RQ-2B pioneer uav.jpg, The AAI RQ-2 Pioneer UAV of the

US Navy The United States Navy (USN) is the naval warfare, maritime military branch, service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is the world's most powerful navy with the largest Displacement (ship), displacement, at 4.5 millio ...

in 2005, was co-developed by IAI and used by the IAF also IAI-Searcher1.jpg, An IAI Searcher ''Hugla'' UAV at Tel Nof Airbase on Independence Day of Israel in April 2007 From the mid-1990s, testing and introduction of the IAI Heron 1 ''Shoval'' UAV began, shortly afterwards of the Elbit Hermes 450 ''Zik'' and finally from 2009 of its successor Hermes 900 ''Kochav'', each by its own squadron. From this point onwards, UAVs were no longer used solely for reconnaissance flights by the IAF, but also for dropping (guided) bombs and firing missiles, something which was not officially confirmed for a long time. IAI Heron 1 in flight 2.JPEG, Based here from mid 1990s until 2023: Heron 1 ''Shoval'' UAVs Hermes 450 Hermes 900 in formation.jpg,

Hermes 450 The Hermes 450 is a medium-sized multi-payload unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) designed by Israeli defence company Elbit Systems, Elbit for tactical long endurance missions. It has an endurance of over 20 hours, with a primary mission of reconnaiss ...

''Zik'' (below) and Hermes 900 ''Kochav'' UAVs in formation Palmachim-2010.jpg, Newly built UAV hangars at Palmachim Airbase in 2010 Reopening of 147 Squadron (Israeli Air Force), April 2024. III.jpg, UAV Operator of 147 Squadron "Goring Ram" at Palmachim in 2024 In January 2023, the 200 Squadron "First UAV" with Heron 1 UAVs was relocated to Hatzor Airbase. At the beginning of April 2024, the 147 Squadron "Goring Ram" reopened at Palmachim for the fourth time, this time with Hermes 900 ''Kochav'' UAVs.

Arrow 2 Missiles

Israel's first operational Arrow 2 missile battery was installed southeast of the airbase in 2000 (see map). For target detection and tracking, it is used at the Ein Shemer Airfield – together with the Arrow 2 missiles there and others at the Sdot Micha Airbase – the local Super Green Pine Radar with a range of 1000 kilometers. The Arrow 2 missile was developed in the 1990s by Israel together with the USA to defend against larger missiles. The Arrow system is operated by the Israeli Air Defense Command, based on Palmachim. This command is a department of the IAF or the ''Israeli Air and Space Force'' and supplements the aircraft squadrons at the bases (see photo in the gallery). Arrow2launcher.jpg, A mobile Arrow 2 launcher, like deployed in a battery near the base AST-18a 03.jpg, An Arrow 2 test launch south of the base on 12 August 2020 IAF Air Defense Division change of command ceremony, April 2021 (85928).jpg, ''

Air Defense Command Aerospace Defense Command was a major command (military formation), command of the United States Air Force, responsible for air defense of the continental United States. It was activated in 1968 and disbanded in 1980. Its predecessor, Air De ...

'' change of command ceremony at Palmachim, April 2021 Tag Hagana Avirit 2011.svg, The Badge of the ''Israeli Air Defense Command'' at Palmachim

Today

Currently (2025) two squadrons

''Yanshuf'' and three squadron

''Zik'' and Hermes 900 ''Kochav'' UAVs are stationed on the base (see also under "

"). In July 2007, it was agreed that once Sde Dov Airport in

was closed, its military terminal would be transferred to Palmachim. The terminal was transferred when Sde Dov Airport ceased operations in July 2019.

Israel–Hamas war

Since 7 October 2023, the drones from Palmachim and other Israeli military bases ( Tel Nof, Hatzor, Ramat David) are operational in the air over the

Gaza Strip The Gaza Strip, also known simply as Gaza, is a small territory located on the eastern coast of the Mediterranean Sea; it is the smaller of the two Palestinian territories, the other being the West Bank, that make up the State of Palestine. I ...

around the clock, on the one hand to collect information and to carry out attacks with guided weapons. In cooperation with the ground troops, they are supported in their advance, which, according to Israeli analyzes, is a novelty in modern warfare on this scale and quality.

Units

* 123 Squadron "Desert Birds" – operating

''Yanshuf'' * 124 Squadron "Rolling Sword" – operating UH-60 Black Hawk ''Yanshuf'',

Sikorsky S-70 The Sikorsky S-70 is an American medium transport/utility helicopter family manufactured by Sikorsky Aircraft. It was developed for the United States Army in the 1970s, winning a competition to be designated the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk, UH-60 ...

* 147 Squadron "Goring Ram" – operating Hermes 900 ''Kochav'' UAVs * 151 Squadron – Missile Testing Squadron * 161 Squadron "Black Snake" – operating

''Zik'' UAVs * 166 Squadron "Fire Birds" – operating Hermes 900 ''Kochav'' UAVs * Unit 669 "Flying Cats" – heliborne Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR) (also based on Tel Nof Airbase) * Unit 5101 "Kingfisher" –

Shaldag Unit Unit 5101, more commonly known as Shaldag (, '' Kingfisher''), is one of the premier Israeli Air Force (IAF) Sayeret units. The unit is part of the 7th Special Air Forces Wing and is based in the Palmachim Airbase. The unit is led by an officer ...

, IAF's special unit for counter-terrorism, hostage rescue and covert reconnaissance Unit 669 and 5101 belong to the 7th Special Air Forces Wing which has its headquarters at Palmachim. Flickr - Israel Defense Forces - Nahal's Brigade Wide Drill (6).jpg,

of 123 Squadron "Desert Birds" (yellow logo on tail) in May 2012 Israel 75th Independence Day - Israeli Air Force Fly By LXXIII.jpg, UH-60 Black Hawk of 124 Squadron "Rolling Sword" (red logo on tail) in April 2023 Squadron 147 of the Israeli Air Force, April 2024 03.jpg, Reopening of 147 Squadron "Goring Ram" with Hermes 900 ''Kochav'' UAVs in April 2024 IAF151 squdron (experimental missiles unit) coverall 1.jpg, The building and symbol of 151 Squadron for missile testing at the spaceport RamatDavid 020517 Hermes 450 01.jpg, A

''Zik'' UAV of 161 Squadron "Black Snake" in May 2017 Operation Guardian of the Walls, May 2021. XXXIV.jpg, A Hermes 900 ''Kochav'' UAV of 166 Squadron "Fire Birds" in May 2021 IDF Blackhawk.jpg, Unit 669 trains sea rescue with a

''Yanshuf'' in September 2008 Shaldag Unit, September 2022 (92116).jpg, Training of

"Kingfisher" of the IAF in September 2022 Note: IAF aircraft can usually be assigned to their squadron by the symbols on the tail

Accidents

The AH-1 Cobra ''Tzefa'' attack helicopters of the two squadrons on Palmachim, which had existed since 1975/79 and 1985 respectively, had become old at some point and several accidents, some of them fatal, had occurred. From 1990 onwards they were also in competition with the newer AH-64 Apache, so that all Cobras were finally decommissioned in the course of 2013. In addition, the UAVs also stationed on Palmachim had become increasingly more powerful, are much cheaper to purchase and maintain and no longer endanger the lives of pilots. * On 15 March 1998, an explosion occurred in flight on a AH-1 Cobra ''Tzefa'', which caused the aircraft to crash over the sea off the coast of Israel. Both pilots were recovered dead. * On the night of 12 March 2013, a AH-1 Cobra ''Tzefa'' crashed into a field near the

Revadim in central Israel. Both pilots were killed in the accident. The helicopter was returning to the Palmachim base after an exercise. It did not catch fire during the crash and so the accident site was not discovered until early in the morning. The IAF subsequently ordered an investigation and all other AH-1 helicopters were banned from taking off until further notice. Around five weeks later, the cause of the accident was determined to be the fracture of a rear rotor blade, which indicates material fatigue. * On the night of 10–11 September 2024, a

''Yanshuf'' from Palmachim crashed during a rescue mission by Unit 669 near

Rafah Rafah ( ) is a city in the southern Gaza Strip, Palestine, and the capital of the Rafah Governorate. It is located south-west of Gaza City. In 2017, Rafah had a population of 171,889. Due to the Gaza war, about 1.4 million people from Gaza C ...

in the southern

. Two soldiers were killed and seven others were injured, some seriously. It is currently assumed that the helicopter was not brought down by enemy fire. IAF commander Major General Tomer Bar convened a commission of inquiry.

Rockets and satellites

The launchpad south of the base is used by ISA to launch the Shavit

space Space is a three-dimensional continuum containing positions and directions. In classical physics, physical space is often conceived in three linear dimensions. Modern physicists usually consider it, with time, to be part of a boundless ...

launch vehicle A launch vehicle is typically a rocket-powered vehicle designed to carry a payload (a crewed spacecraft or satellites) from Earth's surface or lower atmosphere to outer space. The most common form is the ballistic missile-shaped multistage ...

into retrograde orbit, acting as Israel's primary spaceport. Since the end of the 1960s the IAF uses Palmachim to test ballistic missiles, such as the

Jericho Jericho ( ; , ) is a city in the West Bank, Palestine, and the capital of the Jericho Governorate. Jericho is located in the Jordan Valley, with the Jordan River to the east and Jerusalem to the west. It had a population of 20,907 in 2017. F ...

and later the

Arrow An arrow is a fin-stabilized projectile launched by a bow. A typical arrow usually consists of a long, stiff, straight shaft with a weighty (and usually sharp and pointed) arrowhead attached to the front end, multiple fin-like stabilizers c ...

. The launchpad is situated at . Due to Israel's geographical location and hostile relations with neighboring countries, the rockets launch west across the Mediterranean. This avoids flying over enemy countries that could use the technology in the event of a crash and prevents parts from falling into populated areas. The satellites launched are on non-equatorial orbits and are among the few earth satellites that orbit the earth in an east–west direction. Taking off against the earth's rotation causes approximately 30% higher fuel consumption. Recent launches include: * 11 June 2007 -

Ofeq-7 Ofeq-7 (also known as Ofek 7 or Offek-7) is part of the Ofeq family of Earth observation satellites designed and built by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) for the Ministry of Defense (Israel), Israel Ministry of Defense. Launch The Ofeq-7 ...

satellite * 17 January 2008 - version of the Jericho III missile * 22 June 2010 - Ofeq-9 satellite Israel Launches Ofeq-9 Satellite
* 2 November 2011 - version of the Jericho III missile * 9 April 2014 - Ofeq-10 satellite * 13 September 2016 - Ofeq-11 satellite * 29 May 2017 - rocket propulsion system test launch * 6 July 2020 - Ofeq-16 reconnaissance satellite * 28 March 2023 - Ofeq-13 SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) reconnaissance satellite

Orbital launch history

On 17 January 2008, Israel test fired a multi-stage ballistic missile believed to be of the Jericho III type, reportedly capable of carrying "conventional or non conventional warheads". On 2 November 2011, Israel successfully test fired a missile believed to be an upgraded version of the Jericho III; the long trail of smoke was seen throughout central Israel.

References

External links

Palmachim Air Force Base (Israel)
Jane's Information Group

Airports-Worldwide.com

Globalsecurity.org {{Israeli Air Force Airports in Israel Israeli Air Force bases Space program of Israel Rocket launch sites in Israel Spaceports in Asia