From the Liveblog of
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Air Force relocates chopper squadron to north to protect border, in lesson from Oct. 7
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on GoogleEmanuel (Mannie) Fabian is The Times of Israel's military correspondent
The Israel Air Force has completed relocating a helicopter squadron from Ramon Airbase in the south to Ramat David Airbase in the north, as part of efforts to better defend the northern border and following lessons learned from the October 7, 2023, onslaught, the military says.
The 190th Squadron operates a fleet of AH-64A Apache choppers, known in the IAF as Peten (Cobra).
Yesterday, a ceremony was held at Ramat David Airbase to welcome the squadron.
“The transfer of the squadron to Ramat David Airbase is intended to improve the availability of the combat helicopter fleet for defending the country’s borders by dispersing combat helicopter squadrons in the north and south,” the military says.
The Times of Israel Community.