Military airbase

An military airbase (sometimes referred to as a military airfield, military airport, air force station, air force base or short airbase) is an aerodrome used by a military force for the operation of military aircraft.

Airbase facilities

An airbase typically has some facilities similar to a civilian airport—for example air traffic control and firefighting. Some military aerodromes have passenger facilities; for example RAF Brize Norton in England has a terminal used by passengers for the Royal Air Force's flights by TriStar to the Falkland Islands. A number of military airbases also have a civil enclave for commercial passenger flights, e.g. Beijing Nanyuan Airport (China), Ibaraki Airport (Japan), Burlington International Airport (USA).

Some airbases have revetments, hardened aircraft shelters, or even underground hangars, to protect aircraft from enemy attack. Combat aircraft require storage of aircraft ordnance. An airbase may be defended by anti-aircraft weapons and force protection troops.

Nevatim

Nevatim (Hebrew: נְבָטִים) is a moshav in southern Israel. Located in the northern Negev desert around 8 km (5 mi) south-east of Beersheba, it falls under the jurisdiction of Bnei Shimon Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 629.

The nearest settlements are the Bedouin towns of Tel as-Sabi to the north and Shaqib al-Salam to the south. At a greater distance to the northeast lies Nevatim Israeli Air Force Base, named after the moshav.

History

Nevatim was originally established in 1946 by immigrants from Hungary as one of the 11 points in the Negev, its name taken from the Tanakh. In the 1948 Arab-Israeli War the surrounding area, including the city of Beersheba, was conquered by the Egyptian Army.

The Egyptians besieged Nevatim, along with the neighboring village of Beit Eshel (which was destroyed and subsequently abandoned). Nevatim managed to hold on throughout the siege, as the villages received air-dropped supplies and most Egyptian efforts were concentrated on continuing northwards.