![]() A total of 75 Block 30 aircraft was delivered: 51 F-16C's and 24 F-16D's (locally known as Barak or Lightning) and 24 F-16D's. The first F-16D was received by the IAF on December 21, 1987, and was seen in 'First Combat squadron' colors, carrying the tail number #031. Under Peace Marble II, the Tsvah Haganah le Israel / Cheil Ha'avir (Israel Defense Force/Air Force) was supplied with late-model F-16C/D's ( block 30), the first F-16C of which arrived in October 1987. ![]() This particular Block 10 aircraft, serialed #246, wears 140 Sqn 'Golden Eagles' markings. Although the last 22 of these aircraft were put on hold by the Reagan Administration following the Raid on the Osirak reactor, final deliveries took place in 1981.Īn Israeli F-16A 'Netz' delivered under the Peace Marble I program shows off its sand color scheme over the Masada ruins. The first four F-16s, known as Netz (Hawk) in IDFAF service and wearing standard sand/brown/green camouflage colors, arrived in Israel in July of 1980 after an 11 hour delivery flight. The first IDFAF F-16, together with some other Vipers, was flown to Hill AFB, where initial pilot and ground crew conversion took place. They had a number of internal changes that were unique to Israeli requirements, including the fitting of chaff/flare dispensers. These planes were originally intended for the Imperial Iranian Air Force, but the demise of the Shah in 1979 and the consequent rise of the Islamic fundamentalist regime caused these planes to be diverted to Israel. The first F-16 deliveries to Israel (all 75 block 10 aircraft, except for 18 F-16A's and 8 B's that were originally built as block 5 but had already been converted to Block 10) took place under the Peace Marble I Foreign Military Sales program. The fact that Israel had just signed the Camp David agreements with Egypt, however, had established an Israel-friendly climate in Washington, and the acquisition plans were approved. In August of 1978, when the Carter Administration's arms sales restrictions policy had reached its zenith, the government of Israel announced plans to acquire 75 F-16A/B's. ![]() ![]() ![]() so we chose a solution combining quantity and quality". At the F-16 hand-over ceremony (which was held on January 31st, 1980, right after the Iranian F-16 deal was cancelled because of the fall of the Shah), Ivri explained: " After all quantity counts, and it is a major factor in the chances to win. Referring to the decisions leading to the acquisition of the F-16s, former IDFAF commander Brigadier David Ivri explains: " The decision to buy the General Dynamics F-16, resulted mostly from the very high price of the McDonnell-Douglas F-15 Eagles". The IAF test pilot team recommended the purchase of the airplane. The Israel Defense Forces/Air Force (IDFAF) got its first chance to test the Fighting Falcon with the 388 TFW at Hill AFB, which was the first USAF unit operational on type. ![]()
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