Ramon Airbase

 military airbase, military, Israel Defense Forces (IDF)

Ramon Airbase (Hebrew: בסיס חיל-האוויר רמון‎, Basis Hayil-HaAvir Ramon, lit. Ramon Air Force Base) is an Israeli Air Force base southwest of Beersheba, near the town of Mitzpe Ramon. Also titled Kanaf 25 (Hebrew: כנף 25‎, lit. Wing 25), it was formerly known as Matred.

In September of 1978 Israeli and Egyptian negotiators met with US President Jimmy Carter at Camp David to negotiate the terms of peace. An agreement was signed in March of 1979 which called for the phased withdrawal of all Israeli troops for the Sinai by 1982. The Camp David Accords were matched by American pledges for security assistance for both Israel and Egypt totaling nearly $3 billion.

Constructed by the United States and opened in 1981, Ramon is located south west of Beer Sheba, in the central Negev region in southern Israel. Formerly known as Matred, it has three runways, all 3,050 meters long. Ramon AFB hosts the Sayeret Moran and Sayeret Meitar long range anti tank units. Facilities include the Sayeret Meitar school and training grounds, as well as the High Explosive Anti Tank (HEAT) missile equipment. Until 1993 the fact of the existence of these units, as well as the facilities at which they are based, were considered a classified national security matter.

Order of Battle

113th Squadron ("The Hornet Squadron") – operating AH-64D
119th Squadron ("The Bat Squadron") – operating F-16I
190th Squadron ("The Magic Touch Squadron) – operating AH-64
201st Squadron ("The One Squadron") – operating F-16I
253rd Squadron ("The Negev Squadron") – operating F-16I

It was built as the result of joint Israeli and US government funding as part of the IAF's redeployment out of its bases in the Sinai after the peninsula was handed over to Egypt following the 1978 Camp David Accords.

www.iaf.org.il/2570-30203-he/IAF.aspx
www.airports-worldwide.com/israel/ramon_israel.htm