Tel Nof Airbase

, also known as Air Force Base 8 is one of three principal airbases of the Israeli Air Force and is located near Rehovot, Israel. Tel Nof was originally called RAF Aqir, which was the main Royal Air Force base in Palestine. During the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, it was given the code name "Ekron Field". Today Tel Nof houses several fighter and helicopter squadrons. Several special units of the Israel Defense Forces are also located there, including Unit 669, Airborne Combat Search and Rescue, and the training center for paratroopers. The IAF flight academy was at Tel Nof until April 1966 when it was moved to Khatserim IAFB.

It has been alleged that Israeli nuclear weapons are stored in or around the Tel Nof Airbase. In addition, fighter aircraft capable of delivering these nuclear payloads may have been on 24-hour alert there for the past 30 years.

Units

*106 Squadron IAF F-15C/D
*114 Squadron IAF CH-53
*118 Squadron IAF CH-53
*133 Squadron IAF F-15C/D
*Flight Test Center
*Unit 669
*Airborne Combat Search and Rescue
*Paratrooper Training Center
*Nuclear Weapons facilities

References

* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/israel/tel_nof.htm Tel Nof from globalsecurity.org]
* [http://www.aeroflight.co.uk/waf/israel/iafbase.htm Aeroflight World Airforces]
* [http://www.britains-smallwars.com/Palestine/raf.htm The RAF in Palestine]

ee also

*List of airports in Israel