How long does the flight to Yemen take and what is required of the Air Force?

On Thursday, a series of Israeli attacks were carried out in Yemen, targeting strategic and civilian facilities. Among the targets attacked were the airport in Sana’a, the port of Hodeidah and energy and oil stations throughout the country. Destinations located approximately 2,000 kilometers from Israel. The mission involved attacking Houthi targets in the port of Hodeidah and the capital Sana’a, and involved complex logistical and operational challenges.

The distance from Israel to Yemen, about 2,000 kilometers, requires a long flight for the fighter jets. In order to complete the mission and return to Israel, aerial refueling is required during the flight. The refueling planes of 120 Squadron (the “Desert Giants”) provided fuel to the fighters during the mission, allowing them to reach their destinations and return without further stops.

The mission was planned for several weeks, and included coordination between dozens of different planes and aircraft, including refueling planes and control and control planes. Another attack on December 19 was carried out in two waves: the first began at 03:15 and attacked targets in the coastal area, and the second at 04:30 in the capital Sana’a area. A total of 14 fighter jets participated, dropping over 60 bombs on the targets.

In both cases, the flight for such a long distance required precise coordination between all the factors involved, including aerial refueling and coordination between the fighter planes and the refueling planes. In addition, it was necessary to prepare ground forces for emergency rescue. The mission was successfully carried out, and all the planes returned to Israel without incident.

The distance between Israel and Yemen is about 2,000 kilometers. Air Force fighter jets, such as the F-15 and F-16, fly at an average speed of about 900 to 1,200 km/h under operational conditions. Considering this, the duration of the direct flight in each direction is about two to two and a half hours, depending on the weather conditions, the wind regime, and the total weight of the plane.

However, due to the need for aerial refueling and operational maneuvers, the flight may be extended by half an hour to an additional hour in each direction. In addition, there is a halt or slowdown near the attack area for real-time coordination and planning, which extends the overall mission duration.

And what about the flight times at such a distance? A well-planned flight to Yemen and back may take between 5 and 6 hours net, with the total operational time in enemy territory depending on mission objectives and operational requirements.

The attack in Yemen, which may be carried out many more times, demonstrated the impressive operational and logistical capabilities of the Israeli Air Force, which faced complex challenges and carried out a mission far from Israel, with careful coordination and planning.