For the first time in years, the Israeli Air Force allowed a media photographer to board flights and document almost everything. The photos, captured by Yedioth Ahronoth photographer Gadi Kabalo, are presented in this story.
Gadi Kabalo|Published: 02.10.16 , 23:30
Unit 669
The Airborne Rescue and Evacuation Unit, better known as Unit 669, was founded after the Yom Kippur War to extract and provide initial medical treatment to downed (and possibly injured) pilots who had to eject out of their planes behind enemy lines. To that end, the unit includes fighters, doctors and paramedics.
(Photo: Gadi Kabalo)
Yedioth Ahronoth photographer Gadi Kabalo, joined the unit for a drill simulating the extraction of a pilot at sea, documenting everything from a Sikorsky CH 53 helicopter.
(Photo: Gadi Kabalo)
"The long training and the service itself are intense," says Sgt. Maj. Omri, a fighter in the unit. "But when you get to the injured person you were called to extract, it's all worth it."
(Photo: Gadi Kabalo)
Getting a drone into the air
The operator of a drone (also known as an unmanned aerial vehicle or UAV) sits inside a military trailer, where he remote-controls the aircraft that could be hundreds of kilometers away.
Another drone pilot, stationed outside, is on the ground with an operating board, maintaining eye contact with the drones during takeoff.
The outside drone pilot maintains eye contact with it during takeoff and landing. (Photo: Gadi Kabalo)
When the aircraft reaches a certain altitude and distance, the control is given over to the operator in the trailer. Control returns to the outside pilot ahead of landing.
Iron Dome
The nerve center of an Iron Dome battery is Battle Management & Weapon Control (BMC). Inside a trailer, in front of a series of screens, are soldiers whose job is to identify on radar any infiltration of a foreign object into Israeli airspace.
An Iron Dome battery. (Photo: Gadi Kabalo)
It is there that the decision is also made, in cooperation with the Air Force's Operational Headquarters, whether to intercept of not.
Iron Dome's Battle Management & Weapon Control. (Photo: Gadi Kabalo)