681:
571:
440:
594:
704:
616:
112:
420:
79:
463:
498:
716:
514:
482:
65:
28:
119:
86:
542:
attack helicopters. Their task is or was to simulate enemy jet or helicopter attacks and especially their tactics in order to create the most realistic scenario possible in real combat. The squadron also includes a surface-to-air unit that simulates enemy air defense systems.
641:
has taken place on Ovda every two years in the fall, for which several
Western countries send their pilots and fighter jets to Israel, where they undergo intensive training, which also includes the
812:
336:
desert. It has two runways with lengths of 3,000 and 2,600 meters and a heliport. There are currently (2024) no operational fighter jets or helicopters stationed there, but the so-called "
680:
570:
703:
919:
419:
462:
901:
247:
546:
The squadron is not intended for operational missions, although the pilots are trained fighter pilots and the jets are operational machines. Similar to the
243:
439:
398:
for civil charter flights and from 1988 to 2019 for regular scheduled flights by holidaymakers from Europe who wanted to get to the seaside resort of
557:
were decommissioned, including those based at Ovda. In April 2017, the
Aggressor Squadron's older F-16A/B jets were replaced with newer used F-16C/D
804:
593:
497:
649:
with its role as aggressor. In addition to the air forces directly involved, numerous observers from other countries are also regularly present.
615:
78:
979:
564:
For the first time in its history, the IAF appointed its first female commander of an air force base at Ovda
Airbase in March 2024.
715:
1197:
632:
341:
687:
662:
577:
529:
111:
481:
513:
149:
1216:
1168:
972:
988:
374:
54:
965:
367:
1039:
547:
358:
In March 1949 – 8 km northwest to the current base – a temporary airfield was set up during
947:
755:
1074:
1064:
694:
658:
642:
584:
525:
446:
337:
197:
952:
259:
275:
8:
1107:
1102:
1034:
726:
Note: IAF aircraft can usually be assigned to their squadron by the symbols on the tail
1127:
1044:
1002:
709:
Two
Israeli pilots in front of their F-16C jets of 115 Squadron at Ovda in October 2021
382:
1112:
1089:
1079:
646:
607:
554:
468:
321:
207:
920:"Cooperation over competition: Eight nations fly in Israel's largest-ever air drill"
902:"For first time in Israel's history, IDF appoints woman commander of Air Force base"
1178:
1132:
1069:
1059:
528:"Flying Dragon" was brought back to life on Ovda. At this point it was flying both
289:
1163:
1137:
1117:
600:
536:
472:
378:
313:
848:
1122:
876:
735:
453:
449:
426:
353:
1210:
1183:
1142:
1097:
1054:
1018:
410:
403:
373:
In 1981 Ovda (Uvda) was opened as a military airbase – a replacement for the
164:
151:
50:
1173:
1049:
504:
488:
389:
957:
550:, the squadron also offers this training service to other nations.
340:" for pilot training. The international military aviation exercise
64:
413:
had now gone into operation, which is also much closer to Eilat.
779:
409:
On 31 March 2019, the civilian part was closed, because the new
27:
805:"Flying Dragons simulate the enemy for Israel Air Force pilots"
363:
325:
430:
399:
333:
329:
637:
Since 2013, the international military aviation exercise
553:In 2013, all AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters of the
429:in 1949 with a temporary airfield in the southern
1208:
877:"The "Red" Squadron has Integrated the "Barak""
475:(red) and newly built in southern Israel (blue)
973:
721:Current badge of 115 Squadron "Flying Dragon"
519:The Badge of Ovda Airbase aka Airbase 10
849:"IAF Grounds Apache Fleet after Fatal Crash"
833:Aloni, Shlomo (2010-09-01). "Israeli Reds".
38:
621:Older badge of 115 Squadron "Flying Dragon"
101:Show map of Southern Negev region of Israel
980:
966:
507:, which was closed again on 31 March 2019
299:2,600 metres (8,530 ft) Asphalt
756:"Ovda (Uvda / Ouvda) – Israel Airfields"
871:
869:
802:
1209:
1198:List of the busiest airports in Israel
953:Ovda Airport on Airports-Worldwide.com
803:Pfeffer, Anshel (September 19, 2010).
633:Blue Flag (Israeli Air Force exercise)
394:From 1982 onwards it was also used as
961:
832:
362:to secure the southern Negev against
987:
866:
118:
85:
344:takes place there every two years.
332:, in a large plain of the southern
324:base, located in the very south of
317:
39:
13:
948:Ovda Airbase on GlobalSecurity.org
288:3,000 metres (9,843 ft)
14:
1228:
941:
714:
702:
679:
614:
592:
569:
512:
496:
480:
461:
438:
418:
328:, around 40 kilometers north of
117:
110:
84:
77:
63:
26:
815:from the original on 2010-09-21
697:"Flying Dragon" in January 2021
912:
894:
841:
826:
796:
772:
748:
366:shortly before the end of the
1:
741:
661:"Flying Dragon" – operating
626:
7:
780:"Eilat Ramon Airport Guide"
729:
258:455 metres (1,493 ft)
22:Ovda Israeli Air Force Base
10:
1233:
630:
387:
351:
347:
1192:
1156:
1088:
1027:
1011:
995:
606:attack helicopter of the
279:
274:
269:
265:
254:
239:
234:
226:
218:
213:
203:
193:
188:
180:
143:
71:
62:
48:
35:
21:
652:
1217:Israeli Air Force bases
670:IAF Ground Staff School
645:"Flying Dragon" of the
587:"Flying Dragon" in 2013
471:bases abandoned on the
322:Israeli Air Force (IAF)
320:, English: fact) is an
695:115 Aggressor Squadron
659:115 Aggressor Squadron
585:115 Aggressor Squadron
526:115 Aggressor Squadron
487:The first terminal of
381:, abandoned after the
368:First Arab–Israeli War
16:Israeli Air Force Base
198:Israel Defense Forces
165:29.93861°N 34.93694°E
131:Ovda Airbase (Israel)
673:IAF Officers' School
503:The new terminal of
235:Airfield information
1003:Tel Aviv–Ben Gurion
524:In March 2005, the
161: /
98:Shown within Israel
835:Air Forces Monthly
760:GlobalSecurity.org
489:Eilat-Ovda Airport
383:Camp David Accords
377:and others on the
338:Aggressor Squadron
280:Length and surface
170:29.93861; 34.93694
134:Show map of Israel
1204:
1203:
784:Ramon-Airport.com
385:(see map below).
307:
306:
303:
302:
208:Israeli Air Force
55:Southern District
24:Air Force Base 10
1224:
1164:Tel Aviv-Sde Dov
989:Israeli airports
982:
975:
968:
959:
958:
935:
934:
932:
931:
916:
910:
909:
898:
892:
891:
889:
888:
873:
864:
863:
861:
860:
845:
839:
838:
830:
824:
823:
821:
820:
800:
794:
793:
791:
790:
776:
770:
769:
767:
766:
752:
718:
706:
683:
618:
596:
573:
516:
500:
484:
465:
442:
422:
319:
267:
266:
189:Site information
176:
175:
173:
172:
171:
166:
162:
159:
158:
157:
154:
135:
121:
120:
114:
102:
88:
87:
81:
67:
58:
42:
41:
30:
19:
18:
1232:
1231:
1227:
1226:
1225:
1223:
1222:
1221:
1207:
1206:
1205:
1200:
1188:
1184:Eilat-J. Hozman
1152:
1084:
1023:
1007:
991:
986:
944:
939:
938:
929:
927:
924:defensenews.com
918:
917:
913:
906:Times of Israel
900:
899:
895:
886:
884:
875:
874:
867:
858:
856:
847:
846:
842:
831:
827:
818:
816:
801:
797:
788:
786:
778:
777:
773:
764:
762:
754:
753:
749:
744:
732:
722:
719:
710:
707:
698:
684:
655:
635:
629:
622:
619:
610:
597:
588:
574:
520:
517:
508:
501:
492:
485:
476:
473:Sinai Peninsula
466:
457:
456:on 9 March 1949
443:
434:
423:
392:
379:Sinai Peninsula
356:
350:
169:
167:
163:
160:
155:
152:
150:
148:
147:
139:
138:
137:
136:
133:
132:
129:
128:
127:
126:
122:
105:
104:
103:
100:
99:
96:
95:
94:
93:
89:
49:
44:
31:
23:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1230:
1220:
1219:
1202:
1201:
1196:
1194:
1190:
1189:
1187:
1186:
1181:
1176:
1171:
1166:
1160:
1158:
1154:
1153:
1151:
1150:
1145:
1140:
1135:
1130:
1125:
1120:
1115:
1110:
1105:
1100:
1094:
1092:
1086:
1085:
1083:
1082:
1077:
1072:
1067:
1062:
1057:
1052:
1047:
1042:
1037:
1031:
1029:
1025:
1024:
1022:
1021:
1015:
1013:
1009:
1008:
1006:
1005:
999:
997:
993:
992:
985:
984:
977:
970:
962:
956:
955:
950:
943:
942:External links
940:
937:
936:
911:
893:
865:
853:Israel Defense
840:
825:
795:
771:
746:
745:
743:
740:
739:
738:
736:Operation Uvda
731:
728:
724:
723:
720:
713:
711:
708:
701:
699:
685:
678:
675:
674:
671:
668:
654:
651:
628:
625:
624:
623:
620:
613:
611:
599:A now retired
598:
591:
589:
575:
568:
522:
521:
518:
511:
509:
502:
495:
493:
486:
479:
477:
467:
460:
458:
454:Operation Uvda
450:Golani Brigade
444:
437:
435:
427:Operation Uvda
424:
417:
375:Etzion Airbase
360:Operation Uvda
354:Operation Uvda
349:
346:
305:
304:
301:
300:
297:
293:
292:
286:
282:
281:
278:
272:
271:
263:
262:
256:
252:
251:
241:
237:
236:
232:
231:
228:
224:
223:
220:
216:
215:
211:
210:
205:
201:
200:
195:
191:
190:
186:
185:
182:
178:
177:
145:
141:
140:
130:
124:
123:
116:
115:
109:
108:
107:
106:
97:
91:
90:
83:
82:
76:
75:
74:
73:
72:
69:
68:
60:
59:
57:in Israel
46:
45:
36:
33:
32:
25:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1229:
1218:
1215:
1214:
1212:
1199:
1195:
1191:
1185:
1182:
1180:
1177:
1175:
1172:
1170:
1167:
1165:
1162:
1161:
1159:
1155:
1149:
1146:
1144:
1141:
1139:
1136:
1134:
1131:
1129:
1126:
1124:
1121:
1119:
1116:
1114:
1111:
1109:
1106:
1104:
1101:
1099:
1096:
1095:
1093:
1091:
1087:
1081:
1078:
1076:
1073:
1071:
1068:
1066:
1065:Kiryat Shmona
1063:
1061:
1058:
1056:
1053:
1051:
1048:
1046:
1043:
1041:
1038:
1036:
1033:
1032:
1030:
1026:
1020:
1017:
1016:
1014:
1010:
1004:
1001:
1000:
998:
996:International
994:
990:
983:
978:
976:
971:
969:
964:
963:
960:
954:
951:
949:
946:
945:
925:
921:
915:
907:
903:
897:
882:
878:
872:
870:
854:
850:
844:
836:
829:
814:
810:
806:
799:
785:
781:
775:
761:
757:
751:
747:
737:
734:
733:
727:
717:
712:
705:
700:
696:
692:
689:
682:
677:
676:
672:
669:
667:
664:
660:
657:
656:
650:
648:
644:
640:
634:
617:
612:
609:
605:
602:
595:
590:
586:
582:
579:
572:
567:
566:
565:
562:
560:
556:
551:
549:
544:
541:
538:
534:
531:
527:
515:
510:
506:
499:
494:
490:
483:
478:
474:
470:
464:
459:
455:
451:
448:
441:
436:
432:
428:
421:
416:
415:
414:
412:
411:Ramon Airport
407:
405:
404:Gulf of Aqaba
401:
397:
391:
386:
384:
380:
376:
371:
369:
365:
361:
355:
345:
343:
339:
335:
331:
327:
323:
315:
311:
298:
295:
294:
291:
287:
284:
283:
277:
273:
268:
264:
261:
257:
253:
249:
245:
242:
238:
233:
229:
225:
221:
217:
212:
209:
206:
202:
199:
196:
192:
187:
183:
179:
174:
146:
142:
113:
80:
70:
66:
61:
56:
52:
47:
43:
34:
29:
20:
1147:
1075:Mitzpe Ramon
928:. Retrieved
926:. 2017-11-09
923:
914:
905:
896:
885:. Retrieved
883:. 2017-04-04
880:
857:. Retrieved
855:. 2017-08-08
852:
843:
834:
828:
817:. Retrieved
808:
798:
787:. Retrieved
783:
774:
763:. Retrieved
759:
750:
725:
690:
665:
643:115 Squadron
638:
636:
603:
580:
563:
558:
552:
545:
539:
532:
523:
505:Ovda Airport
408:
396:Ovda Airport
395:
393:
390:Ovda Airport
372:
359:
357:
310:Ovda Airbase
309:
308:
230:1981–present
214:Site history
125:Ovda Airbase
92:Ovda Airbase
37:
1103:Ramat David
1040:Be'er Sheva
1028:Unscheduled
1019:Eilat–Ramon
881:IAF Website
240:Identifiers
227:In use
168: /
144:Coordinates
1193:Statistics
1128:Sdot Micha
1108:Ein Shemer
930:2023-09-25
887:2023-10-01
859:2020-05-05
819:2010-09-20
789:2023-10-28
765:2023-10-28
742:References
631:See also:
601:AH-1 Cobra
537:AH-1 Cobra
388:See also:
352:See also:
318:בסיס עובדה
156:34°56′13″E
153:29°56′19″N
40:בסיס עובדה
1169:Jerusalem
1113:Palmachim
1080:Rosh Pina
1045:Ein Yahav
639:Blue Flag
627:Blue Flag
576:An older
535:jets and
342:Blue Flag
276:Direction
255:Elevation
1211:Category
1133:Hatzerim
1090:Military
1060:Herzliya
1012:Domestic
813:Archived
730:See also
204:Operator
1179:Yotvata
1157:Defunct
1138:Nevatim
1118:Tel Nof
1070:Megiddo
809:Haaretz
693:of the
663:F-16C/D
530:F-16A/B
491:in 2006
452:during
425:Map of
402:on the
348:History
296:03L/21R
290:Asphalt
285:03R/21L
270:Runways
246:: VDA,
184:Airbase
1123:Hatzor
1035:Masada
837:(269).
433:desert
364:Jordan
326:Israel
314:Hebrew
250:: LLOV
1143:Ramon
1098:Haifa
1055:Haifa
691:Barak
688:F-16C
666:Barak
653:Units
604:Tzefa
578:F-16A
559:Barak
540:Tzefa
431:Negev
400:Eilat
334:Negev
330:Eilat
219:Built
194:Owner
1174:Ovda
1148:Ovda
581:Netz
548:USAF
533:Netz
445:The
260:AMSL
248:ICAO
244:IATA
222:1981
181:Type
51:Uvda
1050:Fik
686:An
647:IAF
608:IAF
583:of
555:IAF
469:IAF
447:IDF
1213::
922:.
904:.
879:.
868:^
851:.
811:.
807:.
782:.
758:.
561:.
406:.
370:.
316::
53:,
981:e
974:t
967:v
933:.
908:.
890:.
862:.
822:.
792:.
768:.
312:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.