IDF Chief Zamir: "Iran’s Nuclear Program Has Been Pushed Back by Years"

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir took part today (Wednesday) in a ceremony marking the arrival of the strategic refueling and transport aircraft "Gideon" at Nevatim Airbase. In his remarks at the event, Zamir referred to the results of the fighting against Iran: "The evil structure of the ayatollah regime has been significantly cracked, and its future and stability are shrouded in uncertainty," he said. "Its leaders are being hunted, most of its military capabilities have been destroyed, its nuclear program has been pushed back by years. Its economy is collapsing, and its citizens still have not grasped the scale of the disaster their extremist leaders have brought upon them."

The Boeing KC-46 refueling aircraft, the first of its kind in the Israeli Air Force, landed at Nevatim Airbase. It has been assigned to the new refueling squadron, which was inaugurated last week. This is the first of six aircraft purchased by the Defense Ministry’s procurement mission in the United States, as part of a broad IDF force-building effort. Zamir noted that "the 'Gideon' aircraft presented here before us is the first operational fruit of our future Air Force - the result of vision, hard work, and the dedication of many partners along the way." The chief of staff addressed Air Force Commander Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar directly and said this was also his "first fruit" as the service’s new commander, "on the way to a multi-year plan rich in new platforms."

In his own remarks, the Air Force commander said the service’s refueling aircraft took part in operational activity against Iran: "Here, from the runways of Nevatim Airbase, the refueling aircraft took off about two months ago and carried the entire Air Force on their wings to Iran. The regime in Iran, which has set itself the goal of destroying Israel, encountered a level of firepower it had never known, never anticipated, and could not stop." He stressed that the Air Force continues to operate across all arenas: "The aircraft and personnel of the force are operating from the air and from the ground, striking Hezbollah with force, integrated with the fighters on the ground, protecting the residents of the north, repeatedly operating against and thwarting senior Hamas figures in Gaza, and prepared for any development, in any arena." About the new aircraft, he said it "adds a significant component of power to the service’s strategic capabilities - more fuel, more payload, farther reach, enabling more."

Operationally, the KC-46 aircraft make it possible to extend the range and loiter time of fighter jets in the air, while also adding multi-mission transport capabilities. In the defense establishment, the arrival of "Gideon" is seen as strengthening Israel’s strategic capabilities, especially for operations over long distances.

Nevatim Airbase commander Brig. Gen. D. called the aircraft’s landing a historic moment. In his words, "The absorption of a fifth-generation strategic platform, during an intense and prolonged war, while IDF troops are deployed across seven arenas and fighting to defend Israel’s citizens, is a historic, challenging, and deeply moving moment." He added that cooperation between the Defense Ministry, the Air Force, and the defense industries made it possible to complete the aircraft’s integration successfully even in the midst of war.

The five additional aircraft in the series are expected to join the Air Force later on, as part of the multi-year force-building plan the Defense Ministry is managing for the IDF.