IAF Holds Wide-Scale Exercise with IDF’s 162nd Division
During the last two weeks, as part of an extensive inter-arm exercise which included forces from the Artillery Corps, Armored Corps and Infantry Corps, the IAF and the 162nd (“Steel Formation”) Division carried out war drills in the southern theater and simulated a takeover of Gaza City
IsraelDefense
| 22/07/2018
Photo: IDF
As part of an extensive exercise that took place throughout the last two weeks, IDF forces carried out war drills in the southern theater, including a massive takeover of Gaza City, which was simulated by the Israeli city of Beer-Sheva. The training exercise was led by the IAF and the 162nd ("Steel Formation") Division, which consists of forces from the Armored Corps, Artillery Corps, and Infantry Corps.
Aerial forces and ground forces trained for the first time in several new fields, including battle schemes based on an updated operational warfare doctrine, evacuation of uninvolved civilians from structures before military strikes, and air strikes on underground targets meant to assist the ground forces, among others.
"We configured targets and planned aerial schemes for the exercise in advance. We chose operational dilemmas that could occur in the Gaza Strip during wartime," said Capt. R., the Cooperation Unit's exercise leader. "This time, the scale of force was real instead of simulated, both on the ground and in the air. Every control station at the IAF Headquarters participated as well."
Fire from the Sky
The training exercise was planned according to the operational doctrine established last year by the IAF in cooperation with the Ground Arm, which intends to improve cooperation between the forces. The aerial force participating in the exercise included each one of the IAF's various divisions, while members from the Cooperation Unit were situated in the field as IAF representatives.
Alongside the 162nd Division’s Frontal Division Headquarters, members from the Cooperation Unit set up an emergency field headquarters. "Every control station has a specific mission," explained Lt. Col. (res.) A., an instructor from the Flight Academy responsible for the mission of evacuation during the exercise. "The emergency field headquarters is mobile, moving ahead alongside the ground forces in remain to be as close as possible."
"We experimented with various attack scenarios during the exercise, attempting both direct and high-altitude strikes. We prepared for each strike as quickly as possible," elaborated Capt. A., an aircrew member at the 201st ("One") Squadron, which operates "Sufa" (F-16I) aircraft. "We drilled a situation in which we took off with no predestined targets. We only received our targets when we were airborne, forcing us to plan while already in the air."
The Attack Helicopter Division played a significant part in the exercise as well. "We performed escort and supporting fire missions alongside transport helicopters which performed evacuation sorties," said Lt. A., a pilot at the 190th ("Magic Touch") Squadron, which operates "Peten" (Apache Longbow AH-64) helicopters. "In addition, ground forces pointed out terrorist targets while we provided them with close air support."
Evacuation in Hostile Territory
The data collected by the Frontal Divisional Headquarters' directorate was transferred to the IAF's Operational Headquarters, where decisions were made and then relayed to the battlefield. "We gave them the relevant information – the number of casualties, their status, their location and whether or not it was possible to send in a helicopter to the area," said Lt. Col. (res.) A., the IAF casualty evacuation leader at the control station.
"We trained in unfamiliar territory this time, which was a challenge," shared Capt. Y., a pilot at the 123rd ("Desert Birds") Squadron, which operates "Yanshuf" (Black Hawk) helicopters. "Our job is to evacuate casualties from hostile territory during combat. As transport helicopter pilots, we are required to know how to handle such situations. The solution to these problems is to remain in direct contact with the ground forces while the attack helicopters provide close air support."
The RPAV (Remotely Piloted Aerial Vehicle) Division also plays a part in the military intelligence overview. Lt. R., an RPAV Operator in a squadron operating the "Zik" (Hermes 450) aircraft, explained: "We performed a number of sorties throughout the exercise. We have two missions during an operational campaign: the first is maintaining communication with the forces in the field and guiding them, while the other is surveillance and gathering intelligence. The ground forces rely on our capabilities and assistance. We have the ability to assist various forces at the same time and perform several missions in succession."
The 100th ("First") Squadron also participated in the exercise, operating the "Tzofit" (Beechcraft King Air B-200) light transport aircraft. "Our goal was to 'clear' the targets," said Capt. G., the squadron's exercise leader. "We received an aerial overview of the designated targets, made sure that no uninvolved persons were in the area and relayed the information to the commander of the control station at the IAF Headquarters."
Capt. R., the Cooperation Unit's exercise leader, concluded: "This is how the air force forms a bond with the ground forces, learning how to work together and create a mutual language."
The article was originally published by Yael Fuchs, Nuphar Blitt, Tal Ben Naeh, and Shilo Lev on the IAF website.
During the last two weeks, as part of an extensive inter-arm exercise which included forces from the Artillery Corps, Armored Corps and Infantry Corps, the IAF and the 162nd (“Steel Formation”) Division carried out war drills in the southern theater and simulated a takeover of Gaza City
Photo: IDF
As part of an extensive exercise that took place throughout the last two weeks, IDF forces carried out war drills in the southern theater, including a massive takeover of Gaza City, which was simulated by the Israeli city of Beer-Sheva. The training exercise was led by the IAF and the 162nd ("Steel Formation") Division, which consists of forces from the Armored Corps, Artillery Corps, and Infantry Corps.
Aerial forces and ground forces trained for the first time in several new fields, including battle schemes based on an updated operational warfare doctrine, evacuation of uninvolved civilians from structures before military strikes, and air strikes on underground targets meant to assist the ground forces, among others.
"We configured targets and planned aerial schemes for the exercise in advance. We chose operational dilemmas that could occur in the Gaza Strip during wartime," said Capt. R., the Cooperation Unit's exercise leader. "This time, the scale of force was real instead of simulated, both on the ground and in the air. Every control station at the IAF Headquarters participated as well."
Fire from the Sky
The training exercise was planned according to the operational doctrine established last year by the IAF in cooperation with the Ground Arm, which intends to improve cooperation between the forces. The aerial force participating in the exercise included each one of the IAF's various divisions, while members from the Cooperation Unit were situated in the field as IAF representatives.
Alongside the 162nd Division’s Frontal Division Headquarters, members from the Cooperation Unit set up an emergency field headquarters. "Every control station has a specific mission," explained Lt. Col. (res.) A., an instructor from the Flight Academy responsible for the mission of evacuation during the exercise. "The emergency field headquarters is mobile, moving ahead alongside the ground forces in remain to be as close as possible."
"We experimented with various attack scenarios during the exercise, attempting both direct and high-altitude strikes. We prepared for each strike as quickly as possible," elaborated Capt. A., an aircrew member at the 201st ("One") Squadron, which operates "Sufa" (F-16I) aircraft. "We drilled a situation in which we took off with no predestined targets. We only received our targets when we were airborne, forcing us to plan while already in the air."
The Attack Helicopter Division played a significant part in the exercise as well. "We performed escort and supporting fire missions alongside transport helicopters which performed evacuation sorties," said Lt. A., a pilot at the 190th ("Magic Touch") Squadron, which operates "Peten" (Apache Longbow AH-64) helicopters. "In addition, ground forces pointed out terrorist targets while we provided them with close air support."
Evacuation in Hostile Territory
The data collected by the Frontal Divisional Headquarters' directorate was transferred to the IAF's Operational Headquarters, where decisions were made and then relayed to the battlefield. "We gave them the relevant information – the number of casualties, their status, their location and whether or not it was possible to send in a helicopter to the area," said Lt. Col. (res.) A., the IAF casualty evacuation leader at the control station.
"We trained in unfamiliar territory this time, which was a challenge," shared Capt. Y., a pilot at the 123rd ("Desert Birds") Squadron, which operates "Yanshuf" (Black Hawk) helicopters. "Our job is to evacuate casualties from hostile territory during combat. As transport helicopter pilots, we are required to know how to handle such situations. The solution to these problems is to remain in direct contact with the ground forces while the attack helicopters provide close air support."
The RPAV (Remotely Piloted Aerial Vehicle) Division also plays a part in the military intelligence overview. Lt. R., an RPAV Operator in a squadron operating the "Zik" (Hermes 450) aircraft, explained: "We performed a number of sorties throughout the exercise. We have two missions during an operational campaign: the first is maintaining communication with the forces in the field and guiding them, while the other is surveillance and gathering intelligence. The ground forces rely on our capabilities and assistance. We have the ability to assist various forces at the same time and perform several missions in succession."
The 100th ("First") Squadron also participated in the exercise, operating the "Tzofit" (Beechcraft King Air B-200) light transport aircraft. "Our goal was to 'clear' the targets," said Capt. G., the squadron's exercise leader. "We received an aerial overview of the designated targets, made sure that no uninvolved persons were in the area and relayed the information to the commander of the control station at the IAF Headquarters."
Capt. R., the Cooperation Unit's exercise leader, concluded: "This is how the air force forms a bond with the ground forces, learning how to work together and create a mutual language."
The article was originally published by Yael Fuchs, Nuphar Blitt, Tal Ben Naeh, and Shilo Lev on the IAF website.
