Major has thousands of hours of flight to his credit. Committed to the Israeli Air Force since the 18th, the navigator and co-pilot of an F-16 participated in the Rising Lion operation, during which TSAhal struck several dozen Iranian military and nuclear installations. Exclusively for the Tangwall Campagin, she tells her journey and the story of this extraordinary air operation.
The Tangwall Campagin. You are a navigator on an F-16 fighter plane. What exactly is your job?
Major M. I assist the pilot in order to carry out the operation. I am responsible for armaments systems, but also radars and any other navigation system within the plane. The F-16 is a great plane, but it can only be piloted in pairs. It is also I who, very often, pressing the red button when you have to pull an air-to-ground missile.
You participated in the Rising Lion operation. What was your state of mind when you learned that you would participate in this mission?
This is certainly the most important operation in which I participated in my career. I was quite stressed, because I was aware of the risks we have, but this operation was not prepared in a hurry. We have been preparing for years for years. The mission was carefully thought out, and that is why it was a real success.
When did you know that you were selected to participate in the mission?
To be very honest with you, we started to understand it with the frequency of training that only increased. But 24 hours before takeoff, not a single one of us had not been informed of what was going to happen.
How does the Rising Lion operation marks a turning point in the military history of Israel?
It is simply the first time that we have struck so far from our soil. I grew up when I heard about special operations carried out in very distant places, by countries like the United States or France. We, Israelis, were used to fighting enemies at our borders, Lebanon or Gaza. But the threat of Iran was real, we felt it closer every day. I am proud to have participated, but it must be remembered that we must this success in our information. What our agents have done is fantastic!
Many observers have been struck to see that the Iranian anti -aircraft defense failed to shoot down only one of your planes. How do you explain it?
We were prepared at the slightest threat, we had analyzed Iran’s defense capacities for hours and hours, their anti -aircraft missiles, their radars. We even knew that they could have tried to shoot our air bases to nail our planes on the ground. But our intelligence services allowed us to thwart this threat. I will tell you: in flight, I have not seen a single Iranian missile threatening us.
What do you think are the qualities of a good fighter pilot?
First, patience, because the recruitment process is long, very long. You have to be diligent, ready to study for months. And obviously, even if it may seem logical, you have to like to fly; Being in the air is not made for everyone. Patience and work is what makes a good driver or a good browser!
In France, few women are pilots or navigators on combat aircraft. Is it more difficult to operate on these devices when you are a woman?
I sincerely think that there is no difference between men and women to fulfill this type of mission. I even think it could be easier for women, because flying in an F-16 in pairs requires a lot of communicating, and women are deemed better in the field of communication.
Since the strikes of Israel in Iran, do you think your country is more safe than before?
Undeniably, yes. All our objectives have been achieved and many military facilities, which represented a direct threat to Israel, were destroyed. This operation is additional proof of our strength and capacity.
You fly within an F-16, an American plane which is over 50 years old! Are you led to fly in an F-35, a latest generation hunter?
No, unfortunately! In Israel, if you are assigned to a squadron, it is very difficult to change it. But the F-16s, despite their age, are surprising and still very efficient planes, especially thanks to the maintenance work that we do on it.
And what about the French Rafale?
I dream of piloting one! It is an extraordinary plane, in which I always wanted to go up. One day, I trained with the French Air Force, I asked to take a ride on a burst. Unfortunately, we couldn’t … One day, maybe?
