5601 Squadron, also known as Manat (Hebrew: מנ"ט, an acronym for Merkaz Nisu'ey Tisa, Hebrew: מרכז ניסויי טיסה, lit. Flight Test Center), is the Israeli Air Force unit responsible for flight and weapons testing, airframe modification and avionics integration.[1]
Although formed in 1978, Manat may have its origins in a flight test unit established as early as March 1950.[2] Based at Tel Nof, Manat comprises a flight section, including test pilots and flight testing engineers, a technical section charged with aircraft maintenance, an avionics section, and a UAV section operating from Palmachim. The squadron operates a fully instrumented example of every Israeli Air Force frontline combat aircraft type on strength at any time.[3] It also operates a number of UAVs and will utilize helicopter and transport types from other squadrons when necessary.
Among the aircraft currently operated by Manat are three F-16 Fighting Falcons, representing the different variants of the aircraft in service: F-16D Block 30 #020, F-16D Block 40 #601 and F-16I Block 52+ #401.[4] F-16D #601, designated CK-1, was designed by Lockheed to meet specific flight test requirements.[1] Another aircraft operated by the squadron is F-15I #201[5] (94-0286), the very first F-15I built.[3] Manat has also participated in the evaluation of foreign aircraft types, including the Syrian MiG-23 whose pilot defected to Israel in October 1989 and a pair of MiG-29s loaned from a European air force in 1995. During its stay in Israel, one of the MiG-29s even carried the squadron emblem.[6]
The squadron works closely with Israel's defence industries and participates in product testing. Among the projects the squadron was involved with are the various Python missiles, the Popeye II, and the Rafael Spice.[7]
^Norton, Bill (2004). Air War on the Edge - A History of the Israel Air Force and its Aircraft since 1947. Midland Publishing. p. 233. ISBN1-85780-088-5.
^ abAloni, Shlomo (2006). Israeli F-15 Eagle Units in Combat. Osprey. p. 92. ISBN1-84603-047-1.
^Weiss, Ra'anan (2005). F-16I Sufa in IAF Service. Isradecal. p. 4. ISBN965-7220-02-5.
^"Boeing F-15I Raam (201) - Israel airforce". stanakshot. Retrieved 2014-05-05.
^see photos in Weiss and Koren, p. 85 and Norton, p. 379.
5601, squadron, israel, 5601, squadron, also, known, manat, hebrew, מנ, acronym, merkaz, nisu, tisa, hebrew, מרכז, ניסויי, טיסה, flight, test, center, israeli, force, unit, responsible, flight, weapons, testing, airframe, modification, avionics, integration, 5. 5601 Squadron also known as Manat Hebrew מנ ט an acronym for Merkaz Nisu ey Tisa Hebrew מרכז ניסויי טיסה lit Flight Test Center is the Israeli Air Force unit responsible for flight and weapons testing airframe modification and avionics integration 1 5601 SquadronActive1978 PresentCountry IsraelBranch Israeli Air ForceRoleFlight and weapons testingGarrison HQTel Nof AirbaseNickname s ManatEquipmentF 15D Eagle F 15I Ra amF 16D Fighting FalconF 16I SufaF 35I Adir Although formed in 1978 Manat may have its origins in a flight test unit established as early as March 1950 2 Based at Tel Nof Manat comprises a flight section including test pilots and flight testing engineers a technical section charged with aircraft maintenance an avionics section and a UAV section operating from Palmachim The squadron operates a fully instrumented example of every Israeli Air Force frontline combat aircraft type on strength at any time 3 It also operates a number of UAVs and will utilize helicopter and transport types from other squadrons when necessary Among the aircraft currently operated by Manat are three F 16 Fighting Falcons representing the different variants of the aircraft in service F 16D Block 30 020 F 16D Block 40 601 and F 16I Block 52 401 4 F 16D 601 designated CK 1 was designed by Lockheed to meet specific flight test requirements 1 Another aircraft operated by the squadron is F 15I 201 5 94 0286 the very first F 15I built 3 Manat has also participated in the evaluation of foreign aircraft types including the Syrian MiG 23 whose pilot defected to Israel in October 1989 and a pair of MiG 29s loaned from a European air force in 1995 During its stay in Israel one of the MiG 29s even carried the squadron emblem 6 The squadron works closely with Israel s defence industries and participates in product testing Among the projects the squadron was involved with are the various Python missiles the Popeye II and the Rafael Spice 7 See also EditList of aerospace flight test centres Shimshon RozenExternal links EditFlight Test Center photo gallery by Nir Ben YosefReferences Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Squadron 601 Israeli Air Force a b Weiss Ra anan Koren Alon 2003 F 16C D Barak Isradecal p 82 ISBN 978 965 7220 01 6 Norton Bill 2004 Air War on the Edge A History of the Israel Air Force and its Aircraft since 1947 Midland Publishing p 233 ISBN 1 85780 088 5 a b Aloni Shlomo 2006 Israeli F 15 Eagle Units in Combat Osprey p 92 ISBN 1 84603 047 1 Weiss Ra anan 2005 F 16I Sufa in IAF Service Isradecal p 4 ISBN 965 7220 02 5 Boeing F 15I Raam 201 Israel airforce stanakshot Retrieved 2014 05 05 see photos in Weiss and Koren p 85 and Norton p 379 Weiss and Koren p 85 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title 5601 Squadron Israel amp oldid 1021876820, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
