116th Squadron ("The Defenders of the South Squadron")

 squadron (military), draw only border

16 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force, also known as the The Defenders of the South Squadron (former Flying Wing Squadron), is an F-16A/B fighter squadron based at Nevatim Airbase.From 1985 to the end of the nineties the “Defenders of the South” squadron was the home of the IAF's Operational Training Course. Later, it instead played host to the next stage of training, the Advanced Operational Training Course. The training flights include practising aerial combat with multiple participants, strikes using live bombs, flying in formations, navigating, low altitude flying and different sorts of air-to-air combat. A new group of pilots begin the Advance Operational Training Course every six months and during the course each pilots flies more than 100 sorties.

The “Defenders of the South” lead the Air Force in planning and rehearsing responses to airborne terrorist threats. Preparing workshops, designing scenarios, drilling the other squadrons and planning study days are just a few of the squadrons activities in this area.In March 2003 the squadron reopened, this time as an F-16A/B squadron. It was established on Nevatim Airbase, with the help of staff from the “Negev” Squadron and from the IAF's technical division. July 2006 marked a turning point for the squadron.

In the light of the fighting in Gaza and the Second Lebanon War, the number of sorties flown by the F-16A/B increased. On 12th July, the first day of the Second Lebanon War, the squadron carried out an attack for the first time in three years. The squadron took part in numerous strikes and took on unique tasks that played an important role in the war. “The Defenders of the South” was amongst the IAF most active squadrons during the conflict.

www.iaf.org.il/4968-33536-en/IAF.aspx