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Palmachim Air Force Base
Map of the Air Base
Map of the Air Base
IATA: none – ICAO: LL__
Summary
Airport type Military
Operator Israeli Air Force
Elevation AMSL 32 ft / 10 m
Coordinates 31°53′52″N 34°41′26″E / 31.89778°N 34.69056°E / 31.89778; 34.69056Coordinates: 31°53′52″N 34°41′26″E / 31.89778°N 34.69056°E / 31.89778; 34.69056
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
03/21 7,884 2,403 asphalt
13/31 2,636 803 asphalt

Palmachim Air Force Base is an Israeli military facility and spaceport located near the cities of Rishon LeZion and Yavne on the Mediterranean Sea. It is named after nearby Kibbutz Palmachim on the Mediterranean shore.

The base is home to several IAF helicopter and UAV squadrons, and serves as a rocket launch site for the Arrow missile.[1]

Palmachim is also used to launch the Shavit launch vehicle into retrograde orbit by launching over the Mediterranean, acting as Israel's primary spaceport. The launchpad is situated at 31°53′04″N 34°40′49″E / 31.88444°N 34.68028°E / 31.88444; 34.68028 (Shavit launchpad) This ensures that rocket debris falls into water, and that the rocket does not fire over regional neighboring countries near Israel that could use the technology. Palmachim is also used to test ballistic missiles, such as the Jericho.

Recent launches include:

In July 2007, it was agreed that once Sde Dov Airport in Tel Aviv was closed, its military terminal would be transferred to Palmachim[6] although Sde Dov Airport continues to operate.

Units[]

  • 124th Squadron – operating S-70
  • 151st Squadron (Missile Testing Squadron)
  • 160th Squadron – operating AH-1
  • 166th Squadron – operating Hermes 450 UAVs
  • 200th Squadron – operating Heron UAVs

Launch history[]

File:Shavit-1.jpg

Shavit launch

Type of rocket Date of Launch Launch Location Payload Mission Status
Shavit September 19, 1988 Palmachim Airbase Israel Ofeq 1 Success, experimental payload
Shavit April 3, 1990 Palmachim Airbase Israel Ofeq 2 Success, experimental payload
Shavit September 15, 1994 Palmachim Airbase Israel Ofeq ? Failure, unknown payload[7]
Shavit-1 April 5, 1995 Palmachim Airbase Israel Ofeq 3 Success, first Israeli operational satellite in orbit
Shavit-1 January 22, 1998 Palmachim Airbase Israel Ofeq 4 Failure
Shavit-1 May 28, 2002 Palmachim Airbase Israel Ofeq 5 Success, second Israeli operational satellite in orbit
Shavit-1 September 6, 2004 Palmachim Airbase Israel Ofeq 6 Failure
Shavit-2 June 11, 2007 Palmachim Airbase Israel Ofeq 7 Success, third Israeli operational satellite in orbit
Shavit-2 June 22, 2010 Palmachim Airbase Israel Ofeq 9 Success [8]

On 17 January 2008 Israel test fired a multi-stage ballistic missile believed to be of the Jericho III type, reportedly capable of carrying "conventional or non conventional warheads."[3] On 2 November 2011, Israel successfully test fired a missile believed to be an upgraded version of the Jericho III; the long trail of smoke was seen throughout central Israel.[5]

References[]

External links[]

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The original article can be found at Palmachim Airbase and the edit history here.