The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, has visited Israel as a guest of the Commanding Officer of the Israeli Air Force, Major General Amikam Norkin, say the RAF.

The Ministry of Defence say that the visit was to promote key collaborative efforts and strengthen ties between the nations’ Air Forces.

“During the visit to Israel, Air Chief Marshal Wigston was given a tour of the Israeli Air Force Bases, Tel Nof, Palmachim and Nevatim. During the visit the Air Chief Marshal Wigston took part in a joint flight with the Major General Norkin. The Chiefs flew in an Israeli Air Force F-15 aircraft from the 106th Squadron based at Tel Nof Airbase. 

They also visited Squadron 210 as part of a discussion on UAVs and their operational relevance in the Israeli Air Force. 210 Squadron is a part of the Defensive Sword Unit of the Israeli Air Force’s Air Defence System.”

The Chiefs then went on to visit Squadron 140 to discuss the force build-up of the F-35 to the Israeli Air Force and its effects on the Middle East.

Major General Amikam Norkin, Commanding Officer of the Israeli Air Force, was quoted as saying:

“The connection with the British Air Force is very important to the Israeli Air Force. During the visit, we discussed cooperation between our forces, and discussed the situation in the Middle East. We will continue to promote strategic collaborations with the goal of continuing to learn from each other, improving and strengthening ourselves along the way.”

Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, Chief of the Air Staff, was also quoted as saying:

 “This has been an excellent opportunity to engage with the Israeli Air Force, to celebrate our common heritage, to nurture our enduring relationship, and to explore many areas of mutual interest. I am very grateful to Major General Norkin and his excellent team for hosting the visit.”

You can read more about this from the Royal Air Force here.

George Allison
George Allison
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
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8 COMMENTS

  2. Am I right in thinking that the last time the RAF engaged in air to air combat was against the nascent Israeli air force, when both sides were flying Spitfires?

    • RAF engaged both sides, started with Egyptian air force attack Ramat David while still in control of RAF. Spit against Spit, 4 Egyptian were downed by 208 Sqn.
      Israelis in Spits instead downed some of RAF Spitfires. Both Egypt and Israelis claimed confrontation was by mistake.

      I think Tornadoes ADV engaged in Air to Air combat in Iraq-Koweit 1991 but got no kills.
      Other possible occurrences are also Suez 1956, or maybe the RAF Harriers in Falklands but they were employed for land attack.

      The last RAF kill on another hand was a bad one: A RAF Phantom downed a RAF Jaguar by mistake in Germany 1982.

      • Hi Alex:

        I agree – the last RAF air-to-air “kill” was the infamous “friendly fire” incident of May 1982. Fortunately, the Jaguar pilot ejected and lived to fly another day.

        It has been stated that a low-flying RAF Tornado GR1 destroyed an Iraqi Mirage F-1 on the taxiway/runway in January 1991 with a JP233 sub-munition – but the F1 is believed to still have had wheels on the ground.

        Tornado F3s flew numerous combat air patrols during Gulf War 1 – but did not engage the enemy. The nearest the service got to a shot at the Iraqi air-force in the skies was when two venerable Jaguars (with over-wing Sidewinders) were tasked to intercept Mirages threatening Allied shipping – but called-off at the last moment to allow a Saudi F-15 to splash the two bad guys instead!

        Neither were air-to-air kills claimed by the RAF (or FAA) during the Suez crisis – the Egyptian air-force was destroyed on the ground.

        In the Falklands War, as an institution, the RAF claimed no kills – but pilots on exchange tours with the FAA shot down several Argentinian fast-jets – Barton, Penfold, Leeming and Morgan. Likewise, RAF pilots in the Korean War destroyed MIGs while flying F-86s with the USAF.

        There are rumours of a manoeuvring kill by a Javelin over a C-130 transport during the Indonesian crisis of the 1960s.

        But I think you do have to go back to 22 May 1948 for that last legitimate RAF confirmed “kill” – when Spitfire Mark XVIIIs of 208 Squadron shot-down Spitfire Mark IXs of the Egyptian Air Force.

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