Israel celebrated Air Force Day with a demonstration of the latest combat technology and the presentation of wings to a new crop of pilots at ceremonies attended by Defense Minister Ezer Weizman and Air Force Commander Gen. David Ivri at a base in the south of the country. Some of that equipment was put through its paces. The Cobra helicopter demonstrated its maneuverability as an anti-tank weapon. The American-built Hawkeye early warning and spotter plane which has already seen action in the skies over Lebanon, detected “enemy” aircraft at a range of 260 miles and flashed the information to interceptor planes. Formations of French-made Fouga Magestere training planes, American F-15 fighters and the Israel-made Kfir interceptors flew in formations forming a giant Star of David.
Israel’s Navy also had something to celebrate. Its newest missile boat was launched at the Israel Shipyards on Haifa Bay. The craft, which will carry a crew of 45 officers and men and the latest improved Gabriel surface-to-surface missiles, has a cruising range of 3000 nautical miles.
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