Amos Lapidot
Encyclopedia
Amos Lapidot was the tenth Commander of the Israeli Air Force
, a position he held from 1982–1987.
in 1934, Lapidot initially enlisted in the IDF Artillery Corps, before eventually joining the nascent Israeli Air Force
. He flew the P-51 Mustang
, Gloster Meteor
, and Dassault Ouragan
.
During the Suez Crisis
, he flew the Ouragan and the Dassault Mystère. In 1961 he switched to the Dassault Mirage III
and became the deputy commander of 101 Squadron, the IAF's first Mirage squadron. In 1962, he was assigned command of 113 Squadron, flying Ouragans, and in 1965 became commander of 101 Squadron, which he was to lead during the Six Day War. In 1970, he was put in charge of the weapons department in the Israeli Air Force and in 1973 became commander of Hatzor Airbase
, which he led during the Yom Kippur War
.
In 1975, Lapidot was put in charge of the Air Intelligence Directorate
and in 1981 he became the director of the IAI Lavi
project. A year later, in 1982, he was promoted to the rank of Aluf
and became the Commander of the Israeli Air Force.
During his tenure, the Israeli Air Force received more F-16 Fighting Falcon
and upgraded its missile inventory with the Israeli AGM-142 Have Nap
. It was under his aegis that the IAF carried out Operation Wooden Leg
, a raid on the headquarters of the Palestine Liberation Organization
(PLO) at Hammam al-Shatt, Tunisia
(1,500 miles away from Israel
). In 1987, Lapidot completed his term as Commander of the Israeli Air Force
and handed command over to Avihu Ben-Nun
.
In 1988, Lapidot created a think-tank organization. In 1998–2001 he was the President of Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. He is currently the chair of the academic committee of the Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies.
Israeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force is the air force of the State of Israel and the aerial arm of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence...
, a position he held from 1982–1987.
Biography
Born in Kfar SabaKfar Saba
Kfar Saba , officially Kfar Sava, is a city in the Sharon region, of the Center District of Israel. At the end of 2009, Kfar Saba had a total population of 83,600.-History:...
in 1934, Lapidot initially enlisted in the IDF Artillery Corps, before eventually joining the nascent Israeli Air Force
Israeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force is the air force of the State of Israel and the aerial arm of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence...
. He flew the P-51 Mustang
P-51 Mustang
The North American Aviation P-51 Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and in several other conflicts...
, Gloster Meteor
Gloster Meteor
The Gloster Meteor was the first British jet fighter and the Allies' first operational jet. It first flew in 1943 and commenced operations on 27 July 1944 with 616 Squadron of the Royal Air Force...
, and Dassault Ouragan
Dassault Ouragan
The Dassault M.D.450 Ouragan was the first French-designed jet fighter-bomber to enter production, playing a key role in resurgence of the French aviation industry after World War II. The Ouragan was operated by France, Israel, India and El Salvador...
.
During the Suez Crisis
Suez Crisis
The Suez Crisis, also referred to as the Tripartite Aggression, Suez War was an offensive war fought by France, the United Kingdom, and Israel against Egypt beginning on 29 October 1956. Less than a day after Israel invaded Egypt, Britain and France issued a joint ultimatum to Egypt and Israel,...
, he flew the Ouragan and the Dassault Mystère. In 1961 he switched to the Dassault Mirage III
Dassault Mirage III
The Mirage III is a supersonic fighter aircraft designed by Dassault Aviation during the late 1950s, and manufactured both in France and a number of other countries. It was a successful fighter aircraft, being sold to many air forces around the world and remaining in production for over a decade...
and became the deputy commander of 101 Squadron, the IAF's first Mirage squadron. In 1962, he was assigned command of 113 Squadron, flying Ouragans, and in 1965 became commander of 101 Squadron, which he was to lead during the Six Day War. In 1970, he was put in charge of the weapons department in the Israeli Air Force and in 1973 became commander of Hatzor Airbase
Hatzor Airbase
Hatzor Israeli Air Force Base , also titled Kanaf 4 is an Israeli Air Force military air base, located in central Israel, near kibbutz Hatzor after which it is named...
, which he led during the Yom Kippur War
Yom Kippur War
The Yom Kippur War, Ramadan War or October War , also known as the 1973 Arab-Israeli War and the Fourth Arab-Israeli War, was fought from October 6 to 25, 1973, between Israel and a coalition of Arab states led by Egypt and Syria...
.
In 1975, Lapidot was put in charge of the Air Intelligence Directorate
Air Intelligence Directorate
The Israeli Air Intelligence Group is a unit of the Israel Defense Forces Air Force. Like other IDF intelligence gathering bodies, it is professionally subordinate to the IDF's Intelligence Directorate....
and in 1981 he became the director of the IAI Lavi
IAI Lavi
The IAI Lavi was a combat aircraft developed in Israel in the 1980s. It was a multi-billion dollar fighter aircraft project that was disbanded when the Israeli government concluded it could not finance production on its own, could not achieve a consensus on the Lavi's cost-effectiveness and...
project. A year later, in 1982, he was promoted to the rank of Aluf
Aluf
Aluf is the term used for General and Admiral in the Israel Defense Forces . In addition to the Aluf rank itself, there are four other ranks which are derivatives of the word...
and became the Commander of the Israeli Air Force.
During his tenure, the Israeli Air Force received more F-16 Fighting Falcon
F-16 Fighting Falcon
The General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon is a multirole jet fighter aircraft originally developed by General Dynamics for the United States Air Force . Designed as an air superiority day fighter, it evolved into a successful all-weather multirole aircraft. Over 4,400 aircraft have been built since...
and upgraded its missile inventory with the Israeli AGM-142 Have Nap
AGM-142 Have Nap
The Popeye is an air to ground missile developed and in use by Israel, of which several types have been developed for Israeli and export users. A substantially modified long range cruise missile variant of the Popeye Turbo is believed to be used to arm the Israeli submarine based nuclear forces...
. It was under his aegis that the IAF carried out Operation Wooden Leg
Operation Wooden Leg
Operation Wooden Leg was an attack by Israel on the Palestine Liberation Organization headquarters in Hammam al-Shatt, Tunisia, 12 miles from the capital of Tunis. It took place on October 1, 1985. Taking place 1,280 miles away, this was the furthest operation from Israel undertaken by the...
, a raid on the headquarters of the Palestine Liberation Organization
Palestine Liberation Organization
The Palestine Liberation Organization is a political and paramilitary organization which was created in 1964. It is recognized as the "sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people" by the United Nations and over 100 states with which it holds diplomatic relations, and has enjoyed...
(PLO) at Hammam al-Shatt, Tunisia
Tunisia
Tunisia , officially the Tunisian RepublicThe long name of Tunisia in other languages used in the country is: , is the northernmost country in Africa. It is a Maghreb country and is bordered by Algeria to the west, Libya to the southeast, and the Mediterranean Sea to the north and east. Its area...
(1,500 miles away from Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
). In 1987, Lapidot completed his term as Commander of the Israeli Air Force
Israeli Air Force
The Israeli Air Force is the air force of the State of Israel and the aerial arm of the Israel Defense Forces. It was founded on May 28, 1948, shortly after the Israeli Declaration of Independence...
and handed command over to Avihu Ben-Nun
Avihu Ben-Nun
-Bibliography:*...
.
In 1988, Lapidot created a think-tank organization. In 1998–2001 he was the President of Technion – Israel Institute of Technology. He is currently the chair of the academic committee of the Fisher Institute for Air and Space Strategic Studies.