The Israeli Air Force Fifth-Generation Exercise.

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The 10's 2019

June

Fifth-
Generation
 Exercise
Release date 06.06.2019

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The "Baz" (F-15) and
"Barak" (F-16C/D) fighter jets recently
participated in an exercise with the fifth-
generation "Adir" (F-35I), preparing for
potential future operations. This was the first
ever exercise of this sort

Dor Palkovic & Noa Rokni

"We're not going to adjust the 'Adir' (F-35I)

according to the air force – we're going to
adjust the air force according to the 'Adir'". This
is what IAF senior members said just before the
advanced stealth fighter arrived in Israel in late
2016. Since then, the IAF has integrated several
"Adir" jets and personnel while adjusting itself
according to the aircraft's capabilities. Now, in
the summer of 2019, the "Adir" squadron is
already participating in operational activity in
the Middle East, while also training alongside
the force's fourth-generation aircraft.
Archive Photo
The IAF's "Baz" (F-15) and "Barak" (F-16C/D)
squadrons recently participated in a mutual
exercise alongside the "Adir" squadron. "The
goal of the exercise was to study the fifth-
generation capabilities together", said Maj. M',
Deputy Commander of the 140th Squadron.
This was the first time that the participating
squadrons flew alongside the "Adir", briefing
and debriefing together.

Two Generations
"When we established the squadron, we
focused on training the aircrew members and
integrating the platform – it was important that
we learn how to fly and fight using our new
aircraft", elaborated Maj. M'. "Since then, we've
become an operational squadron participating
in warfare; now, we've come to the stage where
we begin to join forces with the other aircraft in
the IAF, thus developing new combat doctrines.
After this, we'll be able to fight as a unified
force".

Archive Photo
The fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft are
different to each other in terms of capabilities,
systems and combat doctrines, as each
platform has a language of its own. In order to
work together, the squadrons are then required
to form a mutual language. "Learning to work
together was the exercise's main goal", said
Maj. A', Deputy Commander of the 133rd
("Knights of the Twin Tail") Squadron, which
operates "Baz" (F-15) aircraft.

Solving the Riddle

The crews faced an operational scenario
planned by the 115th ("Flying Dragon")
Squadron, the force's aggressor squadron. "We
plan according to each aircraft's advantages,
thus solving the operational 'riddle' we were
faced with", elaborated Maj. M'. "We take off as
a formation, fight against the enemy and
successfully perform our mission".

Photography: Alexandra Aksyutich

"Another one of the exercise's focal points was
SAM (Surface-to-Air Missile) threats", described
Capt. B', an aircrew member at the 115th
Squadron. "We faced the participating forces
with things they'd never encountered before in
the fields of moving targets and OPFOR
(Opposing Forces) simulation".

Throughout the week, each side learned lessons

and adjusted itself accordingly the day after.
Maj. A' said: "The improvement we noted
throughout the exercise was amazing. The
cooperative work continued to improve because
we constantly learned how to improve our
briefing, our operation, and our grasp of the
'Adir' fighter's systems".

Archive Photo
Cooperating in Every Mission
Each platform and squadron has its own unique
weapon and specialty. "Our modes of operation
are different, so we want to try and emphasize
each division's advantages in order to improve
our combat abilities", elaborated Maj. M'.
"During warfare, the force's squadrons operate
together. Until today, the 'Adir' was in a sort of
bubble of its own. Now, the force is slowly
getting to learn its features".

The exercise was meant not only for the aircrew

members, but for the Technical Departments as
well. "Throughout the week, our technicians
maintained dozens of 'Baz' fighters while
located in an unfamiliar base with limited
means at their disposal", emphasized Maj. A'.

Archive Photo
"After this exercise, I know that if an 'Adir' flies
in formation with me, I'm aware of its
capabilities and of the ways we can assist each
other", said Maj. A'. Maj. Y', Deputy Commander
of the 105th ("Scorpion") Squadron, which
operates the "Barak" aircraft, added: "Flying
alongside a new platform is a bit like flying with
an international air force. Whenever we're called
to operate together, we'll know how to do it in a
good, efficient manner".

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