Spanish Air Force officers meeting with an IAF pilot at an airbase. Photo: Eran Levy

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A group of senior Spanish Air Force officers, headed by the Air Force Chief of Staff, Maj. Gen. Juan Lewis Aabad, recently came to Israel for a five day visit, following an official invitation by the Israeli Air Force (IAF).

The delegation met with the IAF Chief of Staff, Brig. Gen. Nimrod Shafer, who took them on a helicopter tour of the entire country of Israel. Afterwards, they visited the Nevatim airbase and toured F-16 and the Nahshon aircraft squadrons.

In addition, the Spanish officers and the IAF Chief of Staff attended an informative session, during which the IAF and the Spanish Air Force each presented its structure and function. The delegation also visited the Tel Nof airbase, the CH-53 Sea Stallion helicopter squadron and the new Eitan UAV squadron.

Lt. Col. Ofer, the Deputy Commander of the Tel Nof airbase, who led the tour of the base, spoke highly of this visit and said, “Their visit is praiseworthy. Every meeting and personal contact of this kind creates a basis for future cooperation and trade relation between the military systems. During the visit, we drew comparisons in different fields, such as flight skills, we shared information with each other, and I was under the impression that they enjoyed the tour a lot and learned from it. We enjoyed having them here.”

1st Lt. Mika Lipshitz, head of the IAF Coordination and Operating Department, who accompanied the delegation on its trip, said, “The objective of the visit is to develop relations and cooperation between the aerial forces, to let the commanders get to know each other, and to advance discussions between senior officers on issues of local security in the Middle East.”

The Spanish officers completed their trip with a visit at the Yad VaShem Holocaust museum and a tour of the Israel Military Industries factory.