Ramat David Israeli Air Force Base Air Wing 1 "Ezer Weizman"
בָּסִיס חֵיל-הַאֲוִויר רָמַת דָּוִד
Ramat David,Northern District in Israel
Site information
Type	Airbase
Owner	Israel Defense Forces
Operator	Israeli Air Force
Location
Ramat David Airbase Shown within Israel Show map of Northern Haifa region of Israel Ramat David Airbase Ramat David Airbase (Israel) Show map of Israel
Coordinates	32°40′00″N035°11′00″E / 32.66667°N 35.18333°E /32.66667; 35.18333
Site history
Built	1942 RAF / 1948 IAF
In use	1942 - present
Airfield information
Identifiers	ICAO: LLRD
Elevation	56 metres (184 ft)AMSL
Runways Direction Length and surface 09/27 2,606 metres (8,550 ft) Asphalt 11/29 2,431 metres (7,976 ft) Asphalt 15/33 2,406 metres (7,894 ft) Asphalt

Ramat David Airbase (ICAO:LLRD,Hebrew:בָּסִיס חֵיל-הַאֲוִיר רָמַת דָּוִדBasis Kheil HaAvir Ramat David, English: David Heights) is anIsraeli Air Force (IAF) base located 20 km southeast ofHaifa in theNorthern District ofIsrael, close tokibbutzRamat David in theJezreel Valley. It is the northernmost IAF base in Israel with fighter jets and UAVs based on it. And it has three runways, each about 2.5 km long, and a heliport.

There is an ongoing debate about whether Ramat David should be converted into an international airport for the city ofHaifa.^[1] It now seems almost certain that this will happen (seehere).

Before the airbase was built duringWorld War II, there was already a British military camp here.KibbutzRamat David "David Heights", founded in 1926, takes its name fromBritish Prime MinisterDavid Lloyd George, who was in office at the time of theBalfour Declaration (1917),^[2] where the establishment of a "national home for the Jewish people" in Palestine was announced.

• 
  Kibbutz Ramat David in 1936, in the plain behind it, the airbase was built some years later
• 
  The British military camp on the edge of Kibbutz Ramat David, in early January 1940

Roald Dahl, in his World War II autobiography 'Going Solo', mentions landing his RAFHawker Hurricane Mk.I atRamat David in June 1941.^[3] At that time it wasa ribbon of dry earth that had been rolled out in the middle of a large field of sweet-corn built by the Brits and residents of the nearbykibbutz, as Roald Dahl also reports near the end of his book.^[4] This secret airstrip behindMount Carmel was installed as an alternative runway in case theHaifa Aerodrome (RAF Haifa) 20 km northwest of it was attacked and damaged by the Germans or Italians.

• 
  The British WWII fighter pilot and writerRoald Dahl in 1956
• 
  The temporary airstrip near kibbutzRamat David around 1941

In 1942, theRAF Ramat David military airfield was finally established by theRoyal Air Force (RAF) under theBritish Mandate for Palestine. From this point on, several British aircraft squadrons with fighter aircraft, bombers and transport aircraft were stationed there in turn (see list offormer RAF units below).

• 
  AHawker Hurricane Mk.I, flown byRoald Dahl and based on RAF Ramat David
• 
  AVickers Wellington Mk.IA bomber, temporarily based on RAF Ramat David

During theSecond World War Jewish paratroopers trained at Ramat David to serve in RAF special operation commandos and to drop behind enemy lines in German or German-occupied territory. They were supposed to help bring downed Allied airmen safely back and help Jews hide from the Nazis. Several of them died (see memorial stone in the gallery below).

FormerRoyal Air Force operational units atRAF Ramat David:

• No. 6 Squadron RAF between 28 September 1945 and 2 June 1946 with theHawker Hurricane IV &Supermarine Spitfire LF.9^[5]
• No. 32 Squadron RAF initially between 25 February and 27 September 145 with the Spitfire IX, then between 6 June and 3 October 1946 still with the Spitfire and finally until March 1949 with the Spitfire IX and FR.18 as a detachment^[6]
• Detachment fromNo. 37 Squadron RAF between September 1947 and March 1948 with theAvro Lancaster MR.3^[7]
• Detachment fromNo. 46 Squadron RAF between May 1942 and January 1943 with theBristol Beaufighter IF^[8]
• No. 74 Squadron RAF between 8 July and 4 September 1942 with the Spitfire VB^[9]
• No. 127 Squadron RAF between 26 January and 13 March 1943 with the Spitfire VC^[10]
• Detachment fromNo. 154 Squadron RAF between December 1943 and March 1944 with the Spitfire IX^[11]
• No. 208 Squadron RAF initially between 5 July and 13 August 1945 with the Spitfire IX, then between March and November 1948 as a detachment with the Spitfire FR.18^[12]
• No. 213 Squadron RAF between 13 September 1945 and 25 September 1946 with theNorth American Mustang III/IV^[13]
• Detachment fromNo. 216 Squadron RAF from November 1942 and April 1943 with theLockheed Hudson VI^[13]
• Detachment fromNo. 232 Squadron RAF between December 1943 and March 1944 with the Spitfire IX^[14]
• Detachment fromNo. 242 Squadron RAF between February and March 1944 with the Spitfire IX^[15]
• Detachment fromNo. 243 Squadron RAF between December 1943 and March 1944 with the Spitfire IX^[16]
• No. 249 Squadron RAF between 13 April And 17 May 1948 with theHawker Tempest F.6^[17]
• Detachment fromNo. 294 Squadron RAF between March 1944 and June 1945 with theVickers Wellington^[18]
• Detachment fromNo. 459 Squadron RAAF from December 1943, the full squadron until May 1944 with the Hudson VI^[19]
• No. 1909 Flight ofNo. 651 Squadron RAF between July 1946 and August 1948 with theAuster AOP.6^[20]
• No. 4 Middle East Training School between 20 March 1943 and 30 April 1944, when the unit was disbanded.^[21]

• 
  AB-24 Liberator aircrew from the US98th Bombardment Group atRAF Ramat David in the summer of 1942
• 
  Memorial stone of the WWII para­trooper school for the training of Jewish special forces in the RAF
• 
  Plaque in front of the former British head­quar­ters, which was then also used by the IAF
• 
  Aerial photo of the already Israeli airbase in 1949, taken from aB-17 Flying Fortress of the IAF

After theIsraeli Declaration of Independence on 14 May 1948 and the start of theFirst Arab–Israeli War the next day, the base was temporarily maintained by the RAF to cover the withdrawal of British forces from Palestine. On 22 May 1948, theRoyal Egyptian Air Force attacked the base, mistakenly believing it was now an Israeli controlled airbase. In a series of three attacks, several aircraft were destroyed or damaged, a hangar was destroyed, and four British airmen were killed. In the further course of the fighting, five Egyptian fighter planes (all British made) were shot down. The British were furious with their allies.^[22] A short time later the base was taken over by theIsrael Defense Forces (IDF).

Over time, the Airbase was expanded to the main base of IAF operations north of Israel inSyria andLebanon.

The69 Squadron "Hammers" with three decommissionedB-17 Flying Fortress bombers smuggled from the US to Israel in 1948 was initially stationed here. This was done by the help ofCharles Winters, a Miami businessman who was imprisoned for this and was posthumously pardoned by PresidentGeorge W. Bush in 2008.^[23]

The103 Squadron "Elephants" with threeDC-3 Dakota and oneDouglas DC-5 transport aircraft was initially stationed here also, but both squadrons (69 and 103) were relocated to other Israeli bases in the following years.

The futureIsraeli presidentEzer Weizman (1924–2005) was base commander at Ramat David in the 1950s before he finally took over command of theIAF. In 2011 the base' Wing 1 there was named after him (see photo in gallery below).

• 
  Two IsraeliB-17 Flying Fortress of69 Squadron "Hammers" – in 1953, no longer at Ramat David
• 
  Ezer Weizman (1924–2005), former commander of Ramat David Airbase, theIAF andpresident of Israel
• 
  The famous and airworthy "Black Spitfire", which was privately owned byEzer Weizmann
• 
  IAF Base Wing 1 on Ramat David was named after the late Major GeneralEzer Weizman in 2011

The101 Squadron is Israel's "First Fighter" squadron, formed on 20 May 1948, six days after Israel declared its independence. Initially flying theAvia S-199, it has since operated theSupermarine Spitfire,North American Mustang,Dassault Mystere IV,Dassault Mirage IIICJ,IAI Nesher,IAI Kfir andF-16CBarak. In 2021 it relocated fromHatzor Airbase to Ramat David.

The105 Squadron "Scorpion" was founded in December 1950 as aSpitfire squadron. It has since operated theP-51 Mustang,Dassault Super Mystere,IAI Sa'ar,F-4 Phantom II andF-16DBarak on other airbases. The name "Scorpion" is intended to refer to a ground attack aircraft. In 2021 the squadron was relocated to Ramat David where it is based until the present day.

The109 Squadron "The Valley" was established in 1951 under a different name atTel Nof Airbase and moved to Ramat David in 1956, where it still exists today. It got its name “The Valley” after theJezreel Valley where the base is located. At Ramat David it flew theDassault Mystère IV A,A-4H/N SkyhawkAyit,IAIKfir C.7 and finally from 1991 to the present day the two-seaterF-16DBarak.^[24]

The110 Squadron "Knights Of The North" existed from 1953 to 2017 (from 1957 at Ramat David) and flew theDe Havilland Mosquito (atHatzor),S.O. 4050 Vautour IIA/B,Gloster Meteor F.8,A-4H/N SkyhawkAyit,F-16A/BNetz,F-16C/DBarak and – together with117 Squadron – took part in the destruction of the Iraqi nuclear reactor in 1981.^[25]

The117 Squadron "First Jet" was inaugurated on 17 June 1953 as the IAF's first fighter jet squadron with BritishGloster Meteor at Ramat David. In 1962 these were replaced by FrenchDassault Mirage IIICJShahak, which then took part in theSix-Day War, theWar of Attrition and theYom Kippur War. In 1980, together with the 110 Squadron, they received the firstF-16A/BNetz fighter jets from the USA. In June 1981, four jets from 117 Squadron took part inOperation Opera, the destruction of the Iraqi nuclear reactor Osirak nearBaghdad. From 1986/87 these were then replaced by the IAF's firstF-16C/DBarak, which remained until the squadron was temporarily closed in 2020 .^[26]

Most of the aircraft types are now at theIAF Museum adjacent toHatzerim Airbase:

• 
  Single-seatGloster Meteor F.8 jet of117 Squadron "First Jet" in flight, of Ramat David in July 1954
• 
  Two two-seaterGloster Meteor T.7 jet trainer for117 Squadron "First Jet" of theIAF Flight Academy in the 1950s
• 
  SeveralS.O. 4050 Vautour jets of Ramat David in formation over Haifa onIndependence Day in 1963
• 
  AnS.O. 4050 Vautour IIB of110 Squadron "Knights Of The North" at Ramat David from 1957
• 
  IAF test pilot Danny Shapira in front of a newDassault Mystère IV A jet in June 1956, also at Ramat David
• 
  ADassault Mystère IV A jet of109 Squadron "The Valley" at Ramat David Airbase from 1956
• 
  ADassault Mirage IIICJShahak of117 Squadron "First Jet" is landing at Ramat David Airbase in 1970
• 
  ADassault Mirage IIICJShahak of101 Squadron "First Fighter", also in a squadron at Ramat David
• 
  A-4N SkyhawkAyit of110 Squadron "Knights Of The North" at Ramat David, afterMa'alot massacre 1974
• 
  TwoA-4 SkyhawkAyit, A-4N and A-4H (left to right),147 Squadron "Go­ring Ram" – also at Ramat David
• 
  An Israeli-madeIAIKfir C.7 of144 Squadron "Phoenix" with various weapons – also at Ramat David
• 
  F-16ANetz #107 with kill marks of116 Squadron "Defenders Of The South" – also at Ramat David

The fighter jets are housed in large underground hangar systems and shelters into which they disappear after each landing and which have several entrances and exits. This protects them from missiles and at the same time hides them from view and precise localization.Syria andLebanon are only 50 to 60 km away, from where rockets are repeatedly fired at northern Israel. During theYom Kippur War in 1973, this airbase was the only one where rockets hit and not only destroyed facilities but also caused casualties.^[27]

• 
  Ramat David Airbase seen fromMount Carmel, looking east-southeast, June 2019
• 
  Change of command ceremony at Ramat David Airbase in July 2022
• 
  ATC Tower at Ramat David Airbase in August 2023 with anAS565 PantherAtalef flying by
• 
  TheIron Dome defense system, also stationed at Ramat David, is intended to protect against rockets

On 22 August and 22 September 2024, the terrorist groupHezbollah launched many rockets fromLebanon in an attempt to hit the base, but no serious hit has been reported. AnIron Dome defense system (see photo above and32°40′04″N35°09′38″E / 32.667847°N 35.160449°E /32.667847; 35.160449 (Iron Dome Defense Missiles on Ramat David Airbase)) stationed there had probably intercepted most of the incoming missiles. Hezbollah had previously published a disturbing video showing the base from above by a UAV flying over for several minutes and named various buildings and installations on it. The video also showed that someApache attack helicopters from theRamon Airbase are temporarily stationed there to take part in military operations in Lebanon against Hezbollah.^[28]

At the beginning of October 2020, as part of an IAF efficiency program, the117 Squadron "First Jet" withF-16 fighter jets on Ramat David was disbanded and most of the jets and pilots were assigned to other units. It was involved in all of the country's wars since 1953 and, among other things, also involved inOperation Opera, the destruction of an unfinishedIraqi nuclear reactor in 1981.^[29] In July 2021, the squadron reopened atNevatim Airbase with newF-35IAdir jets.^[30]

From March 2021, the two F-16Squadrons 101 "First Fighter" and105 "Scorpion" were gradually relocated here fromHatzor Airbase to bring all remaining F-16C/DBarak jets under one roof.^[31] They were united with109 Squadron "The Valley" of F-16D machines. Three squadrons with the newerF-16ISufa, adapted to Israeli needs, are based atRamon Airbase, as well as a fourth squadron of them atHatzerim Airbase.

• 
  AnF-16CBarak from117 Squa­dron "First Jet" atBlue Flag in 2017, dis­banded at Ramat David in 2020
• 
  Relocation of101 Squadron "First Fighter" withF-16C jets fromHatzor Airbase to Ramat David in 2021
• 
  TwoF-16DBarak from105 Squadron "Scorpion" flying over theDead Sea in October 2022
• 
  View from109 Squadron Lookout (F-16D, "The Valley") into theJezreel Valley with Ramat David Airbase

In December 2024, the firstultra-Orthodox technician unit of theIAF was established on Ramat David, after 26 so-calledHaredim had completed their training. They will be responsible for the105 Squadron "Scorpion" with F-16D fighter jets and maintain their weapons systems. The aim of this training is to better integrate ultra-Orthodox Jews into the army. The challenge is to enable soldiers to live a religious lifestyle within the army. This includes separate accommodation, strict kosher cuisine and the construction of a synagogue on the base. The IAF called the now completed training a "groundbreaking pilot project".^[32]

From 1996 to 2025, theEurocopter AS565 PantherAtalef of193 Squadron "Defenders Of The West" at Ramat David served as maritime reconnaissance, surveillance andSAR helicopters and were used in close cooperation with theIsraeli Navy as on-board helicopters on ships of theSa'ar 5-class corvette andSa'ar 6-class corvette.^[33] These have their home port at theHaifa naval base, 25 km away.

On 31 August 2025, the 193 Squadron at Ramat David was closed. It is expected to reopen in 2026 atPalmachim Airbase with eightSH-60F Seahawk, which had already been purchased by the IAF and Navy fromUS Navy stocks in 2015. The helicopters were extensively converted and equipped with Israeli systems.^[34][35]

Until then, the remaining Atalefs will continue to serve on the ships. The relocation of193 Squadron "Defenders Of The West" is another indication that Ramat David is being prepared to be abandoned by the IAF and converted into a civilian airport.

• 
  AnAS565 PantherAtalef of193 Squadron as onboard helicopter of aSa'ar 5-class corvette in 2011
• 
  AnAS565 PantherAtalef maritime helicopter of193 Squadron "Defen­ders of the West" in May 2017
• 
  AnAS565 PantherAtalef of193 Squadron is flying above itsSa'ar 6-class corvette in 2024
• 
  From 2026 the AS565Atalef will be replaced by eightSH-60F Seahawk, bought used from theUS Navy

There are two squadrons of still-secretUAVs at Ramat David: the157 Squadron "In The Valley" and the160 Squadron "Shadow Hunter" (see gallery below). It is assumed that the reason for the secrecy is theirstealthiness. Since other countries have such stealth UAVs for a long time, it can also be assumed that Israel – a leading manufacturer of drones – also has such aircraft, but wants to keep their appearance secret for as long as possible. Large UAVs are also designed to fly for at least 24 hours at a time, which would make the whole of Iran accessible, for example.^[36]

Since 2014, there have been considerations to convert Ramat David into a third major international airport alongsideBen Gurion Airport nearTel Aviv andRamon Airport nearEilat.^[37] TheNevatim Airbase in the south of Israel was also being discussed, which could be used for both military and civilian purposes, as was previously the case with theOvda Airbase for over 30 years.^[38]

In the meantime, the civilian conversion of Ramat David seemed to be off the table, because the local resistance to it is too strong.^{[39][circular reference]} In 2021, the government's policy was to build two smaller international airports at bothHaifa in the north andBeersheba in the south.^[40] However, after the presentation of an extensive study and audit in 2023, Ramat David is again the top priority for a major airport.^[41][42]

In July 2025, Israel's National Planning and Construction Council approved a review of plans for two international airports at Ramat David andZiklag (15 kilometers northwest ofBeersheba), including environmental adjustments, a review of security aspects, and addressing existing construction constraints.^[43]

• 101 Squadron "First Fighter" – operatingF-16CBarak^[44][45][46]
• 105 Squadron "Scorpion" – operating F-16DBarak^[47]
• 109 Squadron "The Valley" – operating F-16DBarak^[48]
• 157 Squadron "In The Valley" – operating classifiedUAVs forElectronic Warfare (EW)^[49][50]
• 160 Squadron "Shadow Hunter" – operating classified UAVs, reopened in 2020^[51][52]
• 193 Squadron "Defenders of the West" – operatingEurocopter AS565 PantherAtalef – has been closed on 31 August 2025^[33][35]

• 
  AnF-16CBarak of101 Squadron "First Fighter" from Ramat David Airbase, exhibited in May 2017
• 
  StartingF-16DBarak of105 Squadron "Scorpion" from Ramat David Airbase in May 2021
• 
  An F-16DBarak two-seater of109 Squadron "The Valley" at Ramat David Airbase in May 2017
• 
  Badge of157 Squadron "In The Valley" with classifiedUAVs forElectronic Warfare
• 
  Medal of recognition for the reope­ning of160 Squadron as "Shadow Hunter" with classifiedUAVs in 2020
• 
  Closing ceremony of193 Squadron "Defenders Of The West" at Ramat David on 31 August 2025

Note: IAF aircraft can usually be assigned to their squadron by the symbols on the tail

• On 16 September 1996, anMH-65 Dolphin helicopter from the193 Squadron "Defenders of the West" from Ramat David crashed about 12 miles off the coast ofNahariya, killing all three crew members.^[34]

• At the end of March 2000, anF-16DBarak of109 Squadron "The Valley" from Ramat David crashed into the sea 20 kilometers off the coast ofAtlit during a night exercise. The pilot – a grandson of former Prime MinisterMenachem Begin – and his navigator were killed in the crash.^[53][54]

• In early January 2022, anAS 565 PantherAtalef of193 Squadron "Defenders of the West" from Ramat David crashed off the coast ofHaifa, killing two crew members and seriously injuring another.^[34]

• List of former Royal Air Force stations
• List of airports in Israel

Wikimedia Commons has media related toRamat David IAF base.

• Ramat David on globalsecurity.org
• Aeroflight World Airforces

• Airports in Israel
• Israeli Air Force bases
• World War II airfields in Mandatory Palestine
• Military airbases established in 1942

• Pages using gadget WikiMiniAtlas
• CS1 Hebrew-language sources (he)
• CS1 maint: location
• CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown
• CS1 German-language sources (de)
• Wikipedia extended-confirmed-protected pages
• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Articles containing Hebrew-language text
• Coordinates on Wikidata
• All articles lacking reliable references
• Articles lacking reliable references from May 2024
• All articles containing circular references
• Commons category link is on Wikidata