Palmachim Airbase


The Palmachim Airbase is an Israeli military facility and spaceport located near the cities of Rishon LeZion and Yavne on the Mediterranean coast. It is named after nearby Kibbutz Palmachim.
The base is home to several IAF helicopter and UAV squadrons, and serves as a rocket launch site for the Arrow missile.
Palmachim is also used to launch the Shavit space launch vehicle into retrograde orbit by launching over the Mediterranean, acting as Israel's primary spaceport. The launchpad is situated at This ensures that rocket debris falls into water, and that the rocket does not fire over regional neighboring countries near Israel that could use the technology. Palmachim is also used to test ballistic missiles, such as the Jericho.
Recent launches include:
In July 2007, it was agreed that once Sde Dov Airport in Tel Aviv was closed, its military terminal would be transferred to Palmachim.
The terminal was transferred when Sde Dov Airport ceased operations in July 2019.

Units

The current units at Palmachim include:
Type of rocketDate of LaunchLaunch LocationPayloadMission Status
ShavitSeptember 19, 1988Palmachim Airbase Ofeq 1
ShavitApril 3, 1990Palmachim Airbase Ofeq 2
ShavitSeptember 15, 1994Palmachim Airbase Ofeq ?
Shavit-1April 5, 1995Palmachim Airbase Ofeq 3
Shavit-1January 22, 1998Palmachim Airbase Ofeq 4
Shavit-1May 28, 2002Palmachim Airbase Ofeq 5
Shavit-1September 6, 2004Palmachim Airbase Ofeq 6
Shavit-2June 11, 2007Palmachim Airbase Ofeq 7
Shavit-2June 22, 2010Palmachim Airbase Ofeq 9
Shavit-2April 9, 2014Palmachim Airbase Ofeq 10
Shavit-2September 13, 2016Palmachim Airbase Ofeq 11

On 17 January 2008 Israel test fired a multi-stage ballistic missile believed to be of the Jericho III type, reportedly capable of carrying "conventional or non conventional warheads." On 2 November 2011, Israel successfully test fired a missile believed to be an upgraded version of the Jericho III; the long trail of smoke was seen throughout central Israel.