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All photos were made "on-base" at Ovda and that sometimes makes for an interesting background...
Here's hoping for future rotations of Israeli Air Force aircraft to Europe, especially the northwestern part...
http://defense-update.com/wp/20101210_i ... srael.html
Italian Air Force Tornado Strike Fighters Deploy to Israel for Desert Training
December 10, 2010 tamir_eshel No comments
Italian Air Force Tornado strike fighter takes off from Ovda air force base in the Southern Negev.
Eight Italian Tornado strike fighters deployed to Israel Air Force (IAF) Base at Ovda for eight days.
The visit came two weeks after elements from four IAF squadrons deployed to Sardinia for two weeks of training.
The aircraft were part of the 155º Gruppo ETS (Electronic Warfare and Tactical Suppression Squadron), part of the 50º Stormo ’Giorgio Graffer’ (50th Wing) based in Piacenza and 6º ‘Alfredo Fusco’ Tactical Fighter Wing from Ghedi.
The squadron operates 16 Tornado ECR (electronic combat and reconnaissance) aircraft, equipped with air defense suppression weapons (AGM-88) and electronic combat and the Israeli Reccelite aerial recce pods.
Full article and more photos are available here
Ovda is located in the southern Negev desert near the city of Eilat, where they ‘fought’ against the IAF ‘Flying Dragon’ playing the ‘red team’ aggressor squadron.
The Italians were able to experience unfamiliar desert areas, simulating potential contingencies.
The area around IAF Base Ovda is instrumented to represent realistic targets typical of full scale conflist as well as asymmetric (hybrid) warfare, along with air defense threats, providing a high level of realistic training unavailable in Europe.
Training in such conditions effectively introduces NATO pilots to potential missions.
Italians Tornado ECRs and AMX fighters, along with German Tornado ECRs and Dutch F-16s,
are operating the Reccelite pods in Afghanistan, supporting counter-IED operations in support of ISAF ground operations.
Photo credits for this page: etc
Eight Tornado strike fighters from the Italian Air Force, 155º Electronic Warfare and Tactical Suppression Squadron and and 6º Tactical Fighter Wing,
took part in a recent exercise in Israel.
An Tornado ECR is seen here sheltered in the Israeli Air Force Base at Ovda.
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Few years ago I went to Jordan, and landed at Ovda AB, to do the last miles by bus to the border of Israel/Jordan. Unfortunately no pictures taking allowed at Ovda...