Israel Air Force opens new Special Forces Wing

The opening ceremony took place at the Palmahim Air Force base in central Israel in the presence of IAF Commander Maj.-Gen. Amikam Norkin and the Commander of the 7th Wing Col. E who in the past commanded over both Unit 669 and Shaldag.The IDF’s Spokesperson’s Unit said that the wing “was established in light of the operational need, changes, and expansion of threats in various arenas,” and that the wing “will be a complementary and unique component to the IAF’s operations through special operations behind enemy lines, during routine, and in times of emergency to carry out aerial missions.”The Wing will also take part in the military’s ‘war-between-war’ campaign against the Islamic Republic.

The IAF’s Special Force’s Wing “is designed to address the core challenges of the Air Force to solutions out of a belief in the importance of aerial superiority,” Col. E said, adding that its goal is to “improve operational competence” and is “part of a larger process in the Air Force.”According to Col. E “there is a real desire to increase the effectiveness of the special forces” of the IAF, which has been looking at Strengthening versus streamlining, explaining that “we have resources that, if we use more correctly, will be more effective.”Despite the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, there has been an increase in tensions between Israel and its enemies, on all fronts including Iran. As such, the IDF’s Momentum multi-year plan aims to improve the military’s operational effectiveness and lethality.Acknowledging the economic crisis that has followed the coronavirus pandemic, which is expected to last for the near future, Col. E. said the changes in the operational reality including the technological improvements made by the enemy, have made it necessary to “do all the streamlining without additional resources.”The military believes that there is a significant operational need in the IAF for the new Special Forces Wing, which will enhance the capabilities of the IAF by bringing about synergy, synchronization, and optimization of the special forces units. The effectiveness of the units will be improved by adapting combat methods, weapons and will expand the cooperation between the IAF, the IDF, and the defense establishment. “We are already in an era of regional change, a global epidemic and a battlefield that is becoming more complex on a daily basis,” said IAF Commander Norkin. “The commanders have understood this change. It is the difference that requires us to adjust ourselves and to better appreciate the challenges of the future.”According to Norkin, following the long and in-depth work to build the Wing “there is an enhanced capability that will make our special forces more effective in combat which will affect aerial superiority” or any scenario that involves the IAF.Headed by Col. E, the wing under the command of Norkin and will incorporate various units including Shaldag, Unit 669, a front landing forces unit, a dedicated intelligence unit as well as a training school for troops. It will be based out of the Palmahim Air Base.The IAF’s elite Airborne Combat, Search and Rescue Unit 669 is one of the four special forces of the IDF with soldiers who are trained in combat medicine, parachuting, scuba diving, counter-terrorism, rappelling, rescue under harsh conditions, and navigation. In the 40 years since the unit was formed, it has rescued over 10,000 people across Israel and the world.Shaldag, whose missions are kept confidential, is active during both routine times and times of conflict, carries out covert, highly sensitive special operations. Its main goal is to allow the IAF to obtain intelligence from behind enemy lines and carry out commando operations relevant to the IAF.The IAF’s Frontal Landing (FLU) builds ad-hoc runways in the field for the “Karnaf” and “Shimshon” transport aircraft. It has taken part in various operations, including Operation Moses in the 1980s which saw the covert evacuation of thousands of Ethiopian Jews from Sudan to Israel.Source

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