Palmachim Airbase

The Palmachim Airbase (Hebrew: בָּסִיס חֵיל-הַאֲוִויר פַּלְמַחִים) 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 31°53′04″N 34°40′49″E. 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:

11 June 2007 - Ofeq-7 satellite

17 January 2008 - version of the Jericho III missile

22 June 2010 - Ofeq-9 satellite

2 November 2011 - version of the Jericho III missile

9 April 2014 - Ofeq-10 satellite

13 September 2016 - Ofeq-11 satellite

29 May 2017 - rocket propulsion system test launch

6 July 2020 - Ofeq-16 reconnaissance satellite

28 March 2023 - Ofeq-13 SAR (Synthetic Aperture Radar) reconnaissance satelliteIn 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.