Israel's 60-year-old refueling jets key to air supremacy over Iran - ynet
During the 12-day Operation Rising Lion, the Israeli Air Force maintained a 24/7 aerial siege over Iran, much of that extraordinary reach was made possible by the Israeli Air Force's decades-old Boeing 707 "Re’em" refueling planes, which powered the longest and most complex air campaign the IDF has ever conducted..
“These aircraft were built for exactly this mission,” said Senior Master Sergeant R., a maintenance specialist with Squadron 120—nicknamed the “Desert Giants.” Alongside Maj. G., he is tasked with keeping aircraft operational that no longer exist in any Western air force. “There are so many dials in the cockpit, and the entire aircraft is mechanical—cables and levers just like they were 60 years ago,” he said proudly. “Only the electronics and computing systems have been upgraded.”
The Re’ems, aging refueling aircraft approaching 60 years in service, resemble flying museum pieces. They are older than both the air force commander and the chief of staff—but they still get the job done. Inside, there are no digital screens, let alone touch displays. The cabin is entirely mechanical, with switches and buttons in their original 1960s design. Everything—from the smell to the lighting—feels like a trip back in time.
Throughout the operation, Re’em aircraft delivered millions of liters of fuel across more than 700 midair refueling hookups. Despite hundreds of rehearsals, including joint drills with U.S. forces in the past year, the mission required ice-cold nerves and razor-sharp precision. At the height of a war with Iran, failure was not an option—especially for the fighter pilots relying on fuel mid-mission.
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Due to their commercial airliner profile, the Re’ems are highly visible on radar and lack the agility to evade surface-to-air missiles. While they are equipped with limited missile defense systems—similar to those on Israeli civilian planes—flight paths must be meticulously chosen. The goal: allow fighter jets to operate deep in Iranian airspace for extended missions while keeping the refuelers at a safe distance from enemy threats.
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https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1togo2ege
