First-ever IAF int’l drill comes to a close

Germany, Italy, France, Britain, US take part in two-week exercise in Palmahim

The first-ever international drone drill led by the Israel Air Force, called Blue Guardian, wrapped up Thursday.

Participants from Israel, Germany, Italy, France, the US and the UK operated the Zik (Hermes 450) drone in a variety of scenarios.

The drill at Palmahim air base in central Israel lasted two weeks.

Two teams from the US Air Force, one team from France, two teams from Italy, one team from Germany and one team from the UK’s Royal Air Force with three drone operators participated.

Israel had nine teams consisting of two drone operators from the various IAF drone squadrons, including the 161st Black Snake Squadron, the 200th Squadron and the 210 White Eagle Squadron.

In addition to the Zik, the Eitan Hermes TP, Zufit Beechcraft B200T, Barak F-16s, Saraf AH-64 attack helicopter, Yansuf Sikorsky UH-60 and troops from the IAF’s 669 unit took part in the exercise.

During the first week, participants focused on basic training in flying the Zik, acquiring familiarity with its systems and operations.

The Hermes-450 is a multi-mission tactical UAV that can carry a range of payloads, including electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors, as well as pods for ComINT (communications intelligence) and ELInt (electronic intelligence). The drone has an endurance of 17 hours and a maximum flight level of 18,000 feet.

In addition to gathering intelligence, the drone is also used to assist ground forces by helping to direct attacks.

During the first week, foreign crews operated the Zik with Israeli operators from the IAF drone squadrons. During the second week, it was operated without the Israelis. The teams flew the Zik in a variety of advanced training scenarios and “complex flight descriptions” that included strengthening cooperation between various air force platforms.

The goal of the drill was to “position the IDF as a global professional leader in the operation of UAVs, joint learning and strengthening cooperation between air forces,” the IDF said.

Despite the pandemic affecting the ability to hold in-person training, the IAF took part in 17 drills over the past year, it said.

Drones are also becoming a more central part of most air forces, with the IAF drone squadrons flying about 80% of all IAF flight hours. Four drone squadrons are based at the Palmahim air base just south of Tel Aviv, and 70% of all IAF flight hours take off from it.

Drones played an integral part in Operation Guardian of the Walls in May, with most taking off from Palmahim. About 643 missions were made by drones, totaling 132.6 flight hours, during the 11-day conflict with Hamas and Islamic Jihad in the Gaza Strip.

“Israel is a leader in the field of remotely manned aircraft, and the missions of these aircraft are constantly evolving and are complex,” the press release said.

The IAF has been training the countries that have purchased Israeli drones for years, but “it wasn’t enough,” so the IAF decided to hold an international drone drill, a senior IAF officer said.

“The air force takes part in many exercises alongside forces from countries around the world to prepare itself for a wide range of scenarios, strengthen professional ties and share operational knowledge,” the IAF said.

The threat posed by Iran has allowed the IAF to take part in drills with countries that have recently normalized ties with Israel, including the United Arab Emirates during the Iniohos exercise in Greece in April, a senior IAF officer said.

“It’s not a new Middle East, but it’s one that has a lot of potential,” he said.