Merkava Mark 4 Model 400

The latest iteration of Merkava is called Mark 4 Model 400, which has a newer C2 (Command and Control) system and enhanced TROPHY (note the  the added optical sensor over the radar).

Estonian Defense Forces SPIKE SR ATGM capabilities demonstrated

The EDF (Estonian Defense Forces) has completed a firing of SPIKE SR (Short Range) missiles in a demonstration that took place in September.

EuroSpike’s (a European Joint Venture between Rafael Advanced Defense Systems, Diehl Defence and Rheinmettal Defence) SPIKE SR it is an advanced, shoulder-launched, guided missile, designed for modern infantry warfare. SPIKE SR’s ease-of-use allows the lower echelon infantry to qualify rapidly and to sustain a high level of operation with almost no continuous training.

The SPIKE SR utlilises 3rd generation dual electro-optical (day/night) seeker technology in a versatile lightweight multi-purpose missile that can be used by the infantry or by Special Forces.

The state of the art seeker technology (day/night), including uncooled IIR, high resolution CCD as well as an optimized tracker is tailored to the needs of infantry forces in a variety of operational and environmental scenarios.

A particular advantage of the SPIKE SR include a light weight of only 10kg, operational simplicity, and an enhanced range of 2000 meters with the short time interval from power on to operational readiness, perfect for targets that are only exposed briefly.

During the demo the EDF evaluated the system’s operation and fired two SPIKE SR missiles successfully, with precise target hits.

In addition to the firing of live rounds, the EDF activated the different training means of the weapon system, including outdoor and indoor trainers. The EDF also evaluated the high level of portability of the SPIKE SR, and the highly-effective tandem HEAT (High Explosive Anti-Tank) warheads, which allow advanced modern armor penetration, and the critical stand-off range of 2000m.

The demo was attended by several European delegations, members of the SPIKE User Club, and was preceded by brief instruction of the EDF team on the operation of the weapon.

Packed in a 98 cm long canister, SPIKE SR is highly portable, allowing infantry to easily and rapidly deploy with the weapon in any ground infantry maneuver.

In September 2019, the Estonian MoD signed a 40M Euro Framework agreement with Eurospike for the supply of SPIKE LR ATGM’s, launchers and associated maintenance and training. The contract included ICLU (Integrated Control Launch Units) launchers and live SPIKE rounds. 

Estonia is one of 35user nations of the SPIKE missile, and one of 19usersin the EU and NATO. More than 33,000 SPIKE missiles have been supplied to-date around the world, with over 5,500 SPIKE missiles fired both in training and in combat.

Size of the turret externali armour of Merkava Mk MBT

 Measuring the thickness of the externally mounted armor modules of the Merkava 4 MBT turret (that is, not accounting for the thickness of the steel backplates/turret walls).

Via alanch90 (member of "sturgeonshouse" forum).

Armenian forces destroyed Sand Cat armored vehicle by RPG and knocked out the T-90SA by ATGM

 Armenian forces released the video, which shows the how they defeat the enemy armour.

On the footage Armenian forces destroyed Sand Cat armored vehicle by RPG and knocked out the T-90SA by ATGM

Secret Soft-Kill system (jammer) of Israel Merkava Mk-III MBT

 The IDF experiment in southern Lebanon has been exposed

In the northernmost IDF outpost in the security zone in southern Lebanon sat a “surge company”. A secret armored company, which every soldier who served in the outpost knew that its tanks should not be touched. Of course they did not know the reason – these are tanks with a “purple thunder” (רעם סגול) system. Because of anti-tank missiles that were still in development.

Twenty years after the company was disbanded, the full story of the experiment conducted in real conditions, against an enemy, in southern Lebanon, was allowed to be published. Even today the fighters who served in the company are not sure if it was a successful experiment or a failure.

Hermon David was a young and poisoned officer in a surge company 22 years ago. “We were a very secret company,” he said for the first time about the experiences in the experiment. “We were regularly stationed at the basin outpost, the hottest, most complicated and most threatened place – at the end of the security strip. All the time we had to cover the tanks and equipment and hide our mission.”

At that time, many armored companies operated and fought in the security zone, but unlike the other companies, surge fighters served continuously in southern Lebanon. “We were stationed in the hottest sector in Lebanon, the basin post, which abducted many fighter fighters in those years. Beyond trying to test the system we also had a lot of active successes. Our force was very skilled, with combat experience on the ground, constantly doing the same thing – Lebanon.”

“Our goal was to be in the most dangerous and problematic place all the time, to check the functioning of the system when Hezbollah fires a missile at us,” described David, who served as the company’s deputy commander. “I mean, if the system works it’s fine, but if the system doesn’t work it’s not good.”

Ari Brock, who served as a tank commander, added: “We made a lot of trips in daylight and in front of controlled areas, especially in combat incidents. The intention was to fire a missile at us, who just fired. We were pretty prepared for that, even in coverings. You are less afraid of being exposed in daylight See what happens when a missile is fired at you. “

“On our first two lines in Lebanon they let us play. We would do new things, travel to distant territories. One day we stood in daylight on a spur and waited for a missile. A missile arrived that exploded near the tank caterpillar, but nothing happened to us and the system was not activated,” Brock said. Immediately afterwards he explains that the mission was not to just stand still, but was an operational need “my team also took down two terrorists”.

Despite the shroud of secrecy and full adherence to field security practices, the secret story that ran in southern Lebanon about the special tank company from the Reihan outpost rolled to the ears of the young armored personnel of the time. The stories were about a company with a secret system that eliminates dozens of terrorists and initiates daring operations.

“We did a unique activity from the very activity that was carried out,” said the company’s last commander, Omri Miron. “We changed the concept of the activity a bit – from ambushes of infantry and tanks to skipping ambushes of two pairs of tanks – at unconventional hours and not throughout the night. I felt safe thanks to the people who were with me, and thanks to the professionalism and seriousness we demonstrated in the preparations we made for everything. ”

But throughout the service in southern Lebanon the fighters knew they were putting themselves in danger. “There were situations we knew about missile squads that were about to fire so we stood really exposed. We relied on the system. Lee, as a tank commander, had the knowledge that if we were fired at a missile then ‘purple thunder’ would disrupt it,” Brock said.

“My desire was to immigrate to Lebanon and be in a special place – and I got what I wanted,” added Roi Ofer, who was also a tank commander in the company. “I realized that I was part of an experiment and that the military was testing the effectiveness of the system, but I do not think we felt in the experiment. The goal as we understood it is that we are here to be shot at.”

Ofer expanded: “Feelings change all the time. On the one hand you are on the front of the front, and you are on a tank that does not look normal and you are there to hijack missiles, to test the system. On the other hand, no one wants to be in this situation. Maybe we were kind Of ‘Trial Rabbit’, but that was the only way to test it. “

Colonel Reli Margalit is now recognized as the one who postponed the release to head the Home Front Command epidemiological investigation system. In those years he commanded a surge company. “It was a very special company, built with the idea of ​​an operational experiment in a defensive concept that allows for something more offensive and at no point was there a sense of a guinea pig.”

“We thought it was right and appropriate, and we were also part of the development. We had a lot of other experiments that we were partners in and we saw that they worked,” he added. “Our feeling was that we were saving the country.”

“I do not think we were an experimental rabbit,” Brock also supported. “The truth is that we were never fired upon by a direct-launch missile, so I can not say that the system was successfully tested. We relied on the system.”

After the withdrawal from southern Lebanon in 2000, the military experiment in “purple thunder” was stopped and the special company was disbanded. Throughout the years it operated in the security zone, the company’s tanks were subjected to many mortar stresses and almost all types of fire, except for anti-tank missiles, which the special system was built to protect against.

“Factually, at that time no missiles were fired at us as we expected it to happen,” said Col. Margalit.

– Sucks?

“A bit. There is a very big paradox here. I certainly miss that period, for the fighters there it was a period of self-fulfillment. We were in an experience that is very, very significant and fascinating in Lebanon. We developed all kinds of different techniques and all kinds of norms that were not customary in the security zone. “Somewhat bolder actions, but it was more because of our professionalism.”

The disappointment that the system was not tested in real time is felt by all the fighters we spoke to. “Everyone in our company wanted to see if the system worked or not,” Ofer said. “Everyone in the battle wants to come across, they will shoot at you and put them in. On the other hand, you terribly want not to, and it’s scary murder. These are feelings that come together. There were very scary moments. On the tank. “

More than twenty years after the company’s activity ended, the fighters are trying to explain how they agreed to put themselves in the situation. “You could call it a soldier’s youthful stupidity,” Brock said. “Today it would not have happened, but as a 20-year-old you are sure it will work.”

“It may not be true to say, but I have a kind of regret that the system was not tested under fire,” David said. “It’s a paradox because you seem to have to save your life and your ambition is that they will not fire missiles at you, and if they do shoot they will not hit. But as a fighter with a mission and a goal – I felt a kind of miss.”

After the withdrawal from Lebanon, the then commander of the Northern Command, Gabi Ashkenazi, awarded the company a troop following the activities of its fighters in the months before and during the withdrawal.

The defense establishment responded: The ‘Purple Thunder’ system is an active defense system developed by Mapat, Elta and IMI. After proving the system’s performance in a series of live experiments, the land arm decided to set up the company for an operational examination of the system. After completing the operational examination, and with the departure of the IDF from Lebanon, the ground arm decided to dismantle the systems and transfer them to storage.

The “Purple Thunder” system formed the basis for the capabilities and systems that exist today and placed Israel at the forefront of global technology in dealing with the threat of anti-tank missiles. It should be emphasized that from the outset the company’s SDK was in addition to the existing operational SDK of the IDF Armored Brigades, so that its closure did not affect the SDK of the operational forces required to meet IDF missions.

“As for the claim that the systems experiment led to risk-taking, it will be clarified that the company operated under the same procedures and orders of all the armored companies that operated in the security strip and therefore there was no change in the way it operated in relation to other armored companies.”

Elta and Elbit (the current owners of IMI) declined to comment on the experiment.

Via News1

Elbit Systems introduced the Iron Vision transparent armour system on the M2A2 Bradley IFV

Elbit Systems introduced the cutting edge Iron Vision transparent armour system in the AUSA-2020. The system is installed on US Army M2A2 Bradley IFV.

IronVision™ is the near eye display system for ground combat vehicles, providing situational awareness for crews inside armored vehicles. This low-latency technology allows soldiers to see through the armor of vehicles smoothly, and fight with closed hatches. IronVision provides 360-degree situational awareness that increases survivability and effectiveness of the vehicle. IronVision™ also allows integration with fire control system of the vehicle, which significantly increases vehicle lethality.

The system previously was demonstrated on the Elbit Systems innovative Armored Fighting Vehicle (AFV), as part of the CARMEL Future Combat Vehicle project of the Israeli Ministry of Defense.

U.S. Army Begins Receiving First Iron Dome Battery From Israel

Today the Israel Missile Defense Organization in the Ministry of Defense, delivered the first of two Iron Dome Defense System batteries to the U.S. Army. A symbolic event was held at the Iron Dome production line of defense contractor, Rafael Advanced Systems.

Defense Minister Gantz: “The completion of this agreement serves as further proof that the defense alliance [between the U.S. and Israel], is based on common values and interests, which are stronger than ever."

Today the Israel Missile Defense Organization in the Ministry of Defense, delivered the first of two Iron Dome Defense System batteries to the U.S. Army. A symbolic event was held at the Iron Dome production line of defense contractor, Rafael Advanced Systems 1/2 pic.twitter.com/kkfkfMAXTs

— Ministry of Defense (@Israel_MOD) September 30, 2020

 US Army receives 1st of 2 Iron Dome batteries, unlikely to buy more. After Israel refused to hand over underlying source code for the powerful air defense system, American military put plans to acquire further units on hold.

The US and Israel signed an agreement for the purchase of the two batteries — each of which include a launcher and missiles made by Rafael Advanced Systems Ltd., a radar array made by the ELTA defense contractor, and a command-and-control center developed by the mPrest firm — last August, with initial plans to buy both two more units and to consider deeper integration of the Israeli air defense system.

In March, however, the US Army indicated it was scrapping — or at least freezing — its purchase of the two additional batteries and the further incorporation of the Iron Dome into its aerial defenses.

Though the deal appears to have stalled, Rafael continues to meet with US officials about the matter, a spokesman for the company said Wednesday, stressing that no final decision had been made on the deal.

Source - US Army receives 1st of 2 Iron Dome batteries, unlikely to buy more

Israel RAFAEL defense will modernised the Georgian Air Defence System

Georgian Ministry of Defence signed an important agreement with RAFAEL defense of Israel, according to which country's air defence systems will be fully modernized.

We have signed an important agreement with @RAFAELdefense of #Israel, according to which our air defence systems will be fully modernized. This agreement demonstrates our strong effort to develop Georgia's air defence capabilities for stronger resilience and deterrence. pic.twitter.com/xQpYpsqZMB

— Irakli Garibashvili (@GharibashviliGe) September 11, 2020

Photos of the Georgian Army's Air Defence System Spyder-SR at the Georgia Independens Day, 26 May of 2017 (Link 26 მაისის ღონისძიებაზე გამოტანილი ებრაული ჰსთ კომპლექსი Spyder-SR და ზცრს LAR-160)

5,000 Air Force strikes in the last 5 years

IAF releases data on the 'war between the wars' to prevent Iran's military entrenchment in Syria, transfer of weapons to terrorists.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) presented Thursday, 11 August, the data of the "battle between the wars," which is intended to weaken the enemies of the State of Israel and stop the transfer of weapons to terrorist organizations such as Hezbollah, without dragging Israel into a new war.

According the sourses (1, 2, 3) reported that there has been a jump of hundreds of percent in the scope of the Israeli Air Force's covert operations against the build-up of enemy forces in Syria as well as the transfer of advanced weapons.

In the last five years, about 5,000 rounds of munitions of various kinds have been fired as part of the "battle between the wars campaign, in which the IDF has destroyed advanced and new weapons, as well as arms shipments that would be used operate Israel in the next war.

Most of the operations have taken place in the northern arena, primarily in Syria, where Iran has attempted in recent years to entrench itself militarily and to transfer weapons to its underlings in Hezbollah. The firepower used in the last five years is equal to the firepower which would be used in a period of between two weeks and one month in a real war.

So, the statistic include:

• Over the past 5 years (that is, since 2015), the Air Force has used about 5,000 of aviation munitions "at all theaters". Most of them in last three years (from 2017 to 2020), during this three year about 955 targets were attacked, on which 4,239 bombs and missiles were used, dozens of this munitions dropped by F-35I aircraft.

• Since 2017, Syria has fired 873 anti-aircraft missiles, from them about 844 in the last 3 years, i.e. since mid-2017, mainly missiles of the SA-17 (Buk-M2E) and SA-22 (Pantsir-S1) complexes; for comparison - in 2013 - only 2 missiles;

• Over the past two years, the Israeli Air Force has destroyed a third of Syria’s advanced air defense systems, according to IAF assessments.

• The number of surgeries has skyrocketed over the past year, despite the coronavirus epidemic;

• 70% of the pilots who participated in these operations are reservists.

IDF: 54 targets struck in Syria, 900 in Gaza over past year

ისრაელის თავდაცვითი ძალების განცხადების თანახმად, გასული წლის განმავლობაში ისრაელის ავიაციამ 54 სამიზნე გაანადგურა სირიაში და 900 გაზას სექტორში. უპილოტოებმა მთლიანობაში 40 000 საათი იფრინეს მტრის სამიზნეების საიდენტიფიკაციოდ. ამგვარად ისრაელი ცდილობს აღკვეცო ირანის მცდელობა მოიპოვოს გავლენა და გასასვლელი ხმელთაშუაზღვის რეგიონში.

ბოლო წლების დეტალური სტატისტიკა იხილეთ ინგლისურ ტექსტში:

Israel has struck 54 targets in Syria and 900 in the Gaza Strip over the last year, which has also seen a decrease in attacks in the West Bank, data released by the IDF has shown.

Thursday marked the first time that Israel’s military publicly stated the exact number of targets struck by the Israel Air Force in Syria.

Israel has been carrying out a “war-between-wars” campaign aimed at preventing Iran from reaching its goal of establishing a 1,200 km. length land bridge from Tehran to the Mediterranean, entrenching itself on Israel’s northern borders. Hundreds of targets are estimated to have been struck by Israel over the years.

During the first few years of Israel’s campaign against Iran, the state denied having struck targets in war-torn Syria, preferring instead plausible deniability in an attempt to prevent any retaliatory attacks by Iran or their proxies like Hezbollah.

On September 1, on the first day back to school in Israel, Hezbollah fired a Kornet anti-tank missile toward an IDF vehicle in northern Israel, driving between the communities of Yir’on and Avivim.

While there were no Israeli casualties or injuries, the incident marked the first time since the Second Lebanon War in 2006 that saw direct confrontation between the IDF and Hezbollah, which could have spiraled into war.

In addition to the targets destroyed in Syria, the IDF noted six cross-border attack tunnels dug by Hezbollah from southern Lebanon into northern Israel. The military also noted that 38 kilometers of the barrier between Syria and Israel has been built along the northern border.

The past year saw the most serious peak of violence between Israel and terror groups in the strip since the end of Operation Protective Edge in 2014, with 1,295 rockets fired in 2019 – the majority (93%) having been fired during the 12 violent rounds of confrontation between Israel and terrorist groups in the Strip.

According to the military, 729 of them were fired toward open territory while another 478 were fired toward residential areas, with 85% of them intercepted by the Iron Dome missile defense system.

While almost every year since Hamas took control of the Gaza Strip in 2007 the number of rockets fired toward Israel was in triple digits, 2018 has seen the most serious peak of violence between Israel and terror groups in the strip like Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), since the end of Operation Protective Edge in 2014.

In comparison, a total of just over 1,000 projectiles were fired toward Israel in 2018, and 35 projectiles were fired toward Israel in 2017, 15 the previous year and 21 in 2015, for a total of 71 rockets launched from the coastal enclave by terror groups.

In response to the rocket fire from Gaza, the Israel Air Force carried out over 1,800 sorties and struck 900 targets in the Strip over the past year, the large majority of them belonging to Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad. In comparison, 865 targets were struck in 2018.

Unmanned aerial vehicles spent over 40,000 operational hours during missions over the past year.

According to the IDF, only 22 out of a total of 47.5 kilometers of the underground barrier with the Gaza Strip has been completed. It was expected to be completed by the end of 2019.

In the West Bank, there has been a notable decrease in attacks by Palestinians against Israeli troops and civilians, with a total of 51 terror attacks in the past year compared to 76 in 2018, 75 in 2017 and 141 in 2016.

According to the data, there were 19 shooting attacks in 2019 compared to 33 during the previous year, 34 in 2017 and 54 in 2016. There has also been a decrease in stabbing attacks with 12 in 2019 compared to 17 in 2018, five in 2017 and 22 in 2016. The military noted that there was also a decrease in stone and IED throwing toward Israeli cars over the past year, with 1,469 instances of stone throwing in 2019, compared to 1,881 in 2018, 2,549 in 2017 and 2,225 in 2016. Meanwhile, there were 290 IEDs thrown at cars in 2019 compared to 990 the previous year.

The military also noted that 603 guns and 521 knives were confiscated from Palestinians in the West Bank, compared to 406 guns and 273 knives confiscated the previous year. The IDF also confiscated NIS 972,560 in terror funds compared to NIS 2,156,089 in 2018.

The new photos of the Slammer - 155mm SPH form Israel

The new photos of the Slammer (Sholef) 155mm self-propelled howitzer variant of the Merkava with automatic loading system. The gun has a range of 40+ km with ERFB-BB. Two prototypes appeared in 1984 and 1986 but didn't entered production.

The Slammer is a heavily armored artillery gun mounted on a modified Merkava Mk 1 chassis. Many of these vehicles are Merkava Mk 1 that were retired after the Merkava Mk 2 and Merkava Mk 3 came into service. The Slammer has a long 52-caliber gun barrel that allows +10% range. Reload speed may be decreased to 1 for one minute every 10 minutes through use of an automatic loader. Ammunition racks are large. The Slammer is ready for autonomous operation (without an FDC) if the target's location is known within 15 seconds of a halt, using GPS, inertial navigation, and an internal fire control computer. The Slammer is also capable of direct fire on the move.

ებრაული Slammer-ის აქამდე უცნობი ფოტოები. Slammer-ი ეს არის Merkava1-ის ბაზაზე შექმნილი 155მმ თსდ. ქვემეხის სროლის მანძლი ERFB-BB ჭურვებით 40კმ-ზე მეტია. 84 და 86 წლებში აგებული იქნა ჰაუბიცის ორი პროტოტიპი და წარმატებით გაიარა გამოცდები, თუმცაღა ეკონომიკური მიზეზების გამო შეიარაღებაზე მისი მიღება არ მოხდა.

მანქანა აღჭუერვილი იყო ავტომატური დამტენითა და 52 კალიბრის ქვემეხით.

ავიასწავლება Blue Flag 2019, 03-14.11.19

სანამ სტატიას წაიკითხავთ, გთხოვთ გადახვიდეთ მითითებულ ბმულზე (ყავისფრად მონიშნული ტექსტი) და მოიწონოთ ჩვენი სამხედრო თემატიკის გევრდი - No Man's Land

................................................................................................................................................................................

3 ნოემბრიდან 14 ნოემბრის ჩათვლით, ისრაელში, უვდას ავიაბაზაზე, ისრაელის საჰაერო ძალების დაორგანიზებული 2 კვირიანი საერთაშორისო სწავლება Blue Flag გაიმართა. მას ოფიციალურად "ისრაელში ჩატარებული პირველი საერთაშორისო მე-5 თაობის სწავლება" უწოდეს, რადგანაც მსგავს მანევრებში პირველად იქნა ჩართული მე-5 თაობის გამანადგურებელი F-35I.

სწავლება Blue Flag-ს ისრაელი წელისადში ორჯერ ატარებს. 2013 წელს მასში 4 უცხო ქვეყანა მონაწილეობდა, 2015 წელს 5, 2017 წელს - 9 (მათ შორის საფრანგეთი, პოლონეთი და ინდოეთი). წელს სწავლება 4-ჯერ განხორციელდა, მონაწილე ქვეყნების რაოდენობა შედარებით მცირე იყო, რადგანაც ისრაელის საჰაერო ძალებმა აქცენტი ხარისხზე გააკეთა - სწავლებაში ძირითადად 4,5 და 5 თაობის გამანადგურებლები იყო გააქტიურებული (თუმცა მე-4 თაობაც მონაწილეობდა), ხოლო პილოტებს მინიმუმ 300 საათი ჰქონდათ ნაფრენი. 

Blue Flag 2019-ში, თვითონ ისრაელის გარდა, მონაწილეობდნენ შემდეგი ქვეყნის საჰაერო ძალები - გერმანია, იტალია, საბერძნეთი და აშშ. იაპონია, ხოლო ბრიტანეთი, ხორვატია, ნიდერლანდები, ესპანეთი და საფრანგეთი დამკვირვებლის როლში იყვნენ. სწავლებაზე მიმდინარეობდა თანამედროვე ჰსთ-ს წინააღმდეგობის პირობებში "ჰაერი-ჰაერი" და "ჰაერი-მიწის" მისიების დახვეწა და ასევე მწონიააღმდეგის ტერიტორიაზე მოქმედების სხვადასხვა მისიების დამუშავება, მაგრამ მთავარი მაინც სხვადასხვა ქვეყნებს შორის გამოცდილების გაზიარება იყო.

Blue Flag 2019-ში ჩართული იყო 1000-ზე მეტი სამხედრო მოსამსახურე (მათ შორის 800-მდე უცხოელი) - პილოტები, ტექნიკოსების, ტექმომსახურების პერსონალი (ზოგიერთი წყაროს თანახმად მარტო ბორტპერსონალი იყო 750 ადამიანი). გააქტიურებული იყო ექვსი სხვადასხვა ტიპის 70-მდე გამანადგურებელი (მათ შორის F-15, F-16-ის რამდენიმე მოდიფიკაცია, F-35, Eurofighter Typhoon) და ასევე უპილოტო საფრენი აპარატები, საჰაერო ტანკერები (ისრაელი ავიაციის Boeing 707), სატრანსპორტო თვითმფრინავები, ორი სახეობის ვერტმფრენი და იტალიური საჰაერო რადიოლოკაციური დაზვერვის თვითმფრინავი Е-550А.

ისრაელის შეიარაღებულ ძალებში სწავლება "ისრაელის სახელმწიფოზე, არმიასა და საჰაერო ძალებზე მაღალი გავლენის მქონე და უმაღლესი სტრატეგიული მნიშვნელობის" მოვლენად დასახელდა. აშშ-მ სწავლებაზე 12 ცალი F-16CM გამოაგზავნა, გერმანიამ – 6 Typhoon, საბერძნეთმა – 4  F-16 Block-50. იტალიას ერთდროულად 3 სხვადასხვა ესკადრილია წარმოადგენდა, მათ შორის ერთი 6 ცალი F-35-ით, ერთი 4-5 Typhoon-ითა და ერთიც 1 ცალი Е-550А-თი. თუმცა ყველაზე მრავალრიცხოვანი შემადგენლობით წარმოდგენილი ისრალის საჰაერო ძალები იყო F-15A/B/C/D, F-16I და F-35I და ამათ გარდა სხვა სახეობის საფრენი აპარატები.

სწავლების სამუშაო ენა ინგლისური იყო და ფრენებისთვის NATO-ს ქვეყნების წესები გამოიყენებოდა. ახლაც, როგორც წინა სწავლებებზე, არავას რაიონში რუქაზე წარმოსახვითი მოწინააღმდეგის ტერიტორია იქნა მოხაზული, რომელზეც პირობითი სახმელეთო სამიზნეების განადგურება ხორციელდებოდა. მოწინააღმდეგის ძალებს 115-ე ესკადრილია - "საჰაერო ძალების წითელი ესკადრილია" განასახიერებდა. ამასთან ესკადრილია თვითონ F-35-ებსა და უპილოტოებს იყენებდა (თუმცა ეს ესკადრილიის საშტატო ტექნიკა არაა და ის F-16C-თია შეიარაღებული). ხმელეთზე ჰსთ-ს ძალები მოწინააღმდეგის სხვადასხვა სისტემების იმიტაციას ახდენდნენ, მაგალითად საზენიტო დანადგარი Patriot-ი რუსულ С-300-ს უკეთებდა იმიტაციას.

სწავლების ბოლო დღეებში (12-14.11.2019), ისრაელის არმია გაზას სექტორში "ისლამური ჯიჰადის" წინააღმდეგ ოპერაცია "შავ ქამარს" ახორციელებდა. ამასთან დაკავშირებით სწავლების გეგმებში ცვლილებები იქნა შეტანილი. არცერთმა მონაწილე ქვეყანამ სწავლება არ დატოვა, მაგრამ ფრენების რაიონი სამხრეთით იქნა გადაწეული, რათა გამანადგურებლები ისრაელის რაკეტსაწინააღმდეგო სისტემების მოქმედების არეალიდან გაერიდებინათ. ისრაელის საჰაერო ძალები უკვე ფიქრობენ Blue Flag 2020-ის ორგანიზებაზე. უკვე ცნობილია, რომ სწავლებაში დაბრუნდება ბრიტანეთი, რომელიც ასევე ფლობს F-35-ებს.

და კიდევ ერთი სიახლე, რომელიც საერთაშორისო თანამშრომლობას ეხება. 14 ნოემბერს, სწავლების დასრულების დღეს, ისრაელს აშშ-ს საჰაერო ძალების სარდალი, 4 ვარსკვლავიანი გენერალი,  დევიდ ლ. გოლდფეინი (David L. Goldfein) ეწვია. მას თან ახლდა ევროპაში აშშ-ს საჰაერო ძლების სარდალი, 4 ვარსკვლავიანი გენერალი, ჯეფრი ლ. ჰარიგენი (Jeffery L. Harrigian) და სხვა მაღალჩინოსანი ოფიცრები. სტუმრები შეხვდნენ ისრაელის არმიის გენერალური შტაბის ხელმძღვანელს, გენერალ ლეიტენანტ ავივ კოჰავის და ისრაელის ავიაციის სარდალს, გენერალ მაიორ ამიკამ ნორკინის, მოინახულეს F-35-ებით შეიარაღებულ 140-ე ესკადრილიას, გოლდფეინმა და ჰარიგეინმა ებრაული F-15-ებით იფრინეს.

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