01In brief
254 Squadron is a unit of the Israeli Air Force (IAF) based at Hatzor Air Base. The squadron operated as a fighter unit until 1985, flying Mirage and Kfir aircraft. It is associated with Giora Epstein, Israel's leading air-to-air ace, who commanded the squadron as a reserve officer after retiring from regular service in 1977.
02History and Aircraft
254 Squadron functioned as a fighter squadron until 1985.[1] During its years as a fighter unit, the squadron operated the Mirage and Kfir aircraft.[2] After retiring from permanent IAF service in 1977, fighter ace Giora Epstein took command of the 254th Squadron in a reserve capacity.[3][4] He later retrained on the F-16.[3][4] He converted to the type in 1988 and reportedly continued to fly it until retiring from military flying in 1998.[2]
Hatzor Air Base, where Squadron 254 is based, underwent a significant transition in the early 2020s: the last F-16 squadron departed the base in August 2021, after which UAV units began arriving to fill its hangars.[1][5]
03Transition to Unmanned Aviation
As of 2026, plans were reported for Squadron 254 to receive a new unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) at Hatzor Air Base within the following year, though the specific model was not publicly identified.[1] The planned addition was described as intended to improve operational effectiveness and to replace or supplement aircraft lost during operations in Iran and Lebanon.[1] Separately, other UAV units — including UAV Squadron 200 and Squadron 144, which operates the Nitzotz unmanned aircraft — have also established a presence at Hatzor, though available sources do not indicate whether any of these are the same as the planned UAV element for Squadron 254.[1][5]
Sources
- 1Mako, How the Air Force base that combines intelligence and UAVs operates, accessed on September 27, 2026.
- 2Maariv, accessed on September 27, 2026.
- 3Ynetnews, IDF promotes 80-year-old world's fighter aces champion, accessed on September 27, 2026.
- 4Israel Hayom, Israeli Air Force’s ‘ace of aces’ dies at 87, accessed on September 27, 2026.
- 5Mako, After 50 years: the first UAV squadron moves bases, accessed on September 27, 2026.
IsraelPedia Question & Answers
What is 254 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force?
254 Squadron is a unit of the Israeli Air Force based at Hatzor Air Base. It operated as a fighter squadron until 1985, flying Mirage and Kfir aircraft. The squadron is associated with Giora Epstein, Israel's leading air-to-air ace, who commanded it as a reserve officer after retiring from regular service in 1977.
What aircraft did 254 Squadron fly during its years as a fighter unit?
During its years as a fighter unit, 254 Squadron operated the Mirage and Kfir aircraft. The squadron functioned in this capacity until 1985.
What was Giora Epstein's connection to 254 Squadron?
Giora Epstein, Israel's leading air-to-air ace, took command of 254 Squadron in a reserve capacity after retiring from permanent Israeli Air Force service in 1977. He later retrained on the F-16, converting to the type in 1988, and reportedly continued to fly it until retiring from military flying in 1998.
What happened to Hatzor Air Base after its last F-16 squadron departed?
The last F-16 squadron departed Hatzor Air Base in August 2021. Following that transition, UAV units began arriving to fill its hangars.
What are the plans for 254 Squadron's transition to unmanned aviation?
As of 2026, plans were reported for 254 Squadron to receive a new unmanned aerial vehicle at Hatzor Air Base within the following year, though the specific model was not publicly identified. The planned addition was described as intended to improve operational effectiveness and to replace or supplement aircraft lost during operations in Iran and Lebanon.