IAF Strengthens Cooperation with the German Air Force

Commander of Ground Based Forces in the German Air Force visited Israel earlier this week. He toured the Aerial Defense Division’s various batteries and the Aerial Defense Academy

IAF Strengthens Cooperation with the German Air Force

Photo: Hadas Levav / IAF website

Brig. Gen. Michael Gschossmann, Commander of the German Air Force’s Ground Based Forces, visited Israel this week in order to strengthen the relations and deepen the cooperation between the forces. The General toured “Iron Dome” and “Patriot” batteries and visited the Aerial Defense Academy. His visit was joined by Brig. Gen. Zvika Haimovich, Commander of the IAF’s Aerial Defense Division, and Lt. Col. Tal Caduri, Head of the Aerial Defense Cooperation Department.

General Gschossmann learned about life in Israel and the routine emergency exercise held in schools throughout Israel. “We deal with changing threats," said Capt. Lior Shilo, “Patriot” Battery Commander. “We man the battery 24/7, we have the ability to search for targets in every direction, and we provide integrative protection along with ‘Iron Dome.' The routine is a challenge for us, the combatants' transition from a quiet routine to interception mode in very short time spans."

The General also visited the “Preparation Wing” and received an explanation about the continuous activity from Lt. Col. Ofer Levi, Commander of the Maintenance Squadron. The wing, which provides the batteries with nationwide technical response, was inaugurated as part of the organizational change the Aerial Defense Division is undergoing. “We all know the boundaries of the ‘Patriot’," said Brig. Gen. Haimovich to General Gschossmann, as the German Air Force operates this system as well. “The wing’s soldiers think about the boundaries, the needs, the system’s problems and creatively find outside-the-box solutions."

 

This article was originally published on the IAF website.

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