Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, Commander of the German Air Force, landed in Israel this week for an official farewell visit ahead of completing his seven-year term. During the visit, the general toured Gaza border communities, visited Israel’s defense industries, and met with Israeli Air Force Commander, Major General Tomer Bar.
Training Center for German UAV Operators
Gerhartz also visited Tel Nof Airbase, where he toured the “Red Baron” Squadron—a joint Israeli-German unit that serves as a training center for German UAV operators. The visit, accompanied by the squadron commander and the base commander, underscored the close operational ties between the two air forces and their shared commitment to continued technological and strategic cooperation.
Gerhartz remarked:
“My first trip abroad as the Commander of the German Air Force was to Israel in 2018, shortly after I assumed the role. Now, seven years later, I return here on my final trip, just before handing over command. It brings everything full circle.”
The IDF and Israel’s defense establishment view General Gerhartz’s visit as a symbol of the enduring partnership between Israel and Germany—one built on mutual trust, the sharing of technological knowledge, and operational coordination.
