Aviation

Israel’s Military Air Arsenal: From Fighters to Drones

Israel has emerged as a formidable player in the realm of military aviation. Renowned for its cutting-edge technology and unwavering commitment to national security, Israel’s military air arsenal boasts a diverse range of assets, from state-of-the-art fighter jets to pioneering unmanned drones.

These are some of Israel’s Air Superior fighters, which could represent the most lethal weapons available to its adversaries. Here are the most important weapons.

F-16 Fighting Falcon (I-16 Sufa):
- Type: Multirole fighter aircraft
- Description: The Israeli Air Force employs the F-16, a highly adaptable and agile fighter jet. It is well-known for its ability to adapt to a wide range of mission profiles, including air-to-air combat and ground attacks. Israel has tailored its F-16s to match its unique operating requirements.
F-15 Eagle (I-15 Ra’am):
- Type: Fighter aircraft
- Description: The F-15 Eagle, a powerful and capable fighter jet developed for air superiority missions, is operated by Israel. The F-15 is well-known for its high speed, long-range, and combat capability in both air-to-air and air-to-ground roles.
IAI Kfir:
- Type: Fighter aircraft
- Description: The IAI Kfir is a fighter aircraft designed and manufactured in Israel. The Israeli Air Force and other countries have utilised it. While not as advanced as other recent Western fighters, the Kfir has served Israel well.
AH-64 Apache:
- Type: Attack helicopter
- Description: The AH-64 Apache, a heavily armed assault helicopter, is used by Israel. The Apache is intended for anti-tank and close air support operations. It is armed with a variety of lethal weapons and has proven to be quite effective in warfare.
IAI Heron:
- Type: Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)
- Description: The Israel Aerospace Industries Heron is a medium-altitude, long-endurance UAV. It is used for reconnaissance, surveillance, and, in some situations, armed missions. The Heron is capable of carrying guided missiles and has been used in information gathering and security operations.

These aircraft and unmanned vehicles are critical components of Israel’s defense and security strategy, providing a variety of capabilities to satisfy a variety of operational needs.

Aviation

Lost Tool Found in Qantas A380 After 34 Flights

An Australian Transportation Safety Bureau (ATSB) investigation recently revealed that a Qantas A380 operated 34 flights with a 1.25-meter nylon tool lodged in one of its engines.

This turning tool, used during borescope inspections to rotate the intermediate-pressure compressor, was left behind during scheduled maintenance at Los Angeles on December 6, 2023. It remained inside the engine until it was discovered by maintenance staff during a subsequent check at Los Angeles on January 1, 2024.

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The ATSB report highlights two critical lapses. First, maintenance engineers failed to notice the tool during final checks for foreign objects after the borescope inspection. Second, the lost tool procedure was not activated when the tool was identified as missing.

The certifying engineer ultimately cleared the aircraft for service without accounting for the misplaced tool. During the time qantas films the tool was inside, the A380 completed 34 flight cycles, accumulating nearly 294 hours without any noticeable effect on engine performance.

Although the tool was deformed by high-energy airflow within the engine, there was no reported damage to the engine itself. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell commented.

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“This incident underscores the importance of following established maintenance protocols. Engineers missed the tool during foreign object checks, and the required lost tool procedure wasn’t started after realizing the tool was missing.”

Following the investigation, the airline issued a safety directive, urging all engineering and tool storage teams to adhere strictly to these protocols to prevent similar incidents in the future.

A qantas spokesperson stated, “While the tool didn’t impact engine performance, we take this incident very seriously. It is critical to follow the correct lost tool procedures.”