The Israeli Air Force (IAF, Tel Aviv Ben Gurion) may have to sell Wing of Zion, the State of Israel’s first aircraft for VIP transport needs, despite around ILS1 billion shekels (USD305 million) having already been invested in modifying the B767-300ER, 4X-ISR (msn 30186), local media reported. It has yet to be used for its intended purpose, to carry the prime minister or president of Israel.
The original budget for the purchase, conversion, and upgrade of the aircraft was ILS393 million (USD120 million), according to the newspaper Haaretz, but by the time of its first test flight in November 2019 the budget had ballooned to ILS580 million (USD177 million).
As the conversion and test flights continue, the total cost has by now almost doubled again, the Hebrew-language news site Ynet reported on July 5. A political row is brewing over whether to press ahead with the project or scrap the plan altogether and sell the 21.1-year-old former Qantas (ex-VH-OGV) widebody, which first landed in Israel in July 2016.
Yair Lapid, leader of the centrist party Yesh Atid, became Israel’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister in June in a new coalition government assembled under Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. As a result of the 2021 election, Yesh Atid is the largest party in the country’s governing coalition.
Lapid has long opposed the project for Israel to operate its own version of the United States’ Air Force One, criticising the expense and declaring in October 2019: “When we are in government, we will sell it and transfer the money to where it really is needed.” However, a decision on its fate ultimately lies with Bennett, who has yet to express an opinion on the matter, neither has the new president, Yitzhak Herzog.
Israel’s defence establishment believes that the prime minister should use an aircraft with advanced security and communication systems, allowing for the management of the affairs of state from the sky. It strongly opposes the sale of the aircraft. It has also been claimed that the twinjet already had advanced systems installed that cannot be sold to a foreign entity.
The aircraft is still not yet ready for official operations, a spokesperson at the Prime Minister’s Office told Ynet, and it is in the process of “licensing proceedings” that may take several more months. There is also a requirement to build a dedicated operating area at Tel Aviv Ben Gurion where the aircraft will be based.
