Posted on 12/08/2012 12:58:57 AM PST by Jet Jaguar
Israel's military police are investigating the theft of F-16 fighter plane engines from an military base in central Israel, with the military suspecting that the thieves had inside help. The F-16C/D 'Barak' jets were undergoing repairs.
The base commander contacted the military police after discovering the engines missing. There were no details how many engines or engine parts were stolen but the radio report said the estimated worth is the millions of dollars.
The thieves seems to have been assisted by someone within the base. Among other things, there is the fact that there was no damage to the base's perimeter fence. This leads investigators to believe that the thieves went in and out through the gates. This would have to be done with a large vehicle, since the engines weigh over 1.5 tons and are more than 15 feet long.
No suspects have been arrested yet but the most likely possibility is that the engines were stolen by Arab metal thieves, weapons dealers or terror-related agents. The theft marks a low point in its ability to secure its own bases.
In July, Bedouin metal thieves infiltrated the IDF base at Tze'elim in the Negev and stole crates of ammunition, which the IDF insists were empty. The Bedouins entered the base on SUVs.
In May, two bullet-proof military jeeps were stolen from the Ketziot base in southern Israel. The jeeps both carried military equipment.
In January, the theft of 1,500 tank shells from an IDF munitions base in the South was reported. Several people have been charged, and the Military Police launched an investigation against commanders and soldiers suspected of involvement in the huge theft.
In a similar incident last year, the Israeli military police conducted an investigation after parts for F-15s and F-16s belonging to an airbase near Tel Aviv were found when police searched a warehouse used by scrap metal merchants.
[Editorial note: Some sources currently state that only parts of the engine were stolen.]
Is that an F-16 engine in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?
Sounds like the IDF has a security problem.
Maybe they’ve gotten complacent since the Fence reduced domestic terrorism to a smidgeon. Hope this serves as a wakeup call.
To be honest, massive theft is widespread in Israel’s military. Every single item down to a clothes and tableware left unattanded gets “liberated” by fellow soldiers. They call it “sper” - a cross word between Russian “spyor” - heist and English “spare”.
I heard once Israel’s military has declared an amnesty for soldiers&former soldiers to give stolen property back and they were barely able to handle all the stuff they got back including expensive communication equipment, vehicle parts and even firearms with ammo. One person turned in a speedboat.
It was common knowledge during WWII equipment would be “liberated” by members of line units for their use from units way behind the lines. That may be the case here.
Let's hope so, 'cause if that ain't the situation, there's more reason than ever to disavow anything even approaching muslim/arab.
Arab metal thieves? Terror-related agents? Such pure unadulterated hogwash! So, Arab metal thieves managed to get entire engines from an Israeli military installation?
This is what happened. A corrupt Israeli official sold them to contacts working for the Chinese. Not to 'Arab metal dealers' or 'terrorists.' Chinese.
My support for Israel is absolute. 100% pro Israel. But I am not stupid. There are some areas that are not water tight, and in the past there has been some clear leakage of technology (eg the Lavi fighter prototype that is one of the fathers of the Chinese J-10).
it was I . I am hot rodding a stearman and almost settled for a chevy small block.
LOL!
I had visions of some Palis tooling around town in a hot ‘57 Buick or something.
Can I go with you when you take it in for inspection? I’d like to be there when they stick that probe in the tailpipe and tell you to start it up to check the emission levels.
LOL! Mysteriously it passed...
The TV show was mostly fiction.
Insider help??
Yes: and a lot of it.
Help at the gate, help loading the things,help in knowing where to find them.
Sounds more like Israel was involved in the “theft”
Yeah, I found that out later, but the black sheep were real p40 (I think) rebel pilots flying out of Burma
Boyington flew for the Chinese, the Flying Tigers, in China and then trasfered back to the US Marines in the Pacific. He was commander of a Marine Squadron VMF 214 I believe and made many kills, and was shot down more than once I believe. He was captured and imprisoned.
Yes, despite having Boyington himself as a production consultant. Some of the other members of VMF-214 were a bit offended at being portrayed as a bunch of screw-ups just inches away from a court-martial. Pappy *was* an unconventional CO (and accurately portrayed as far as the drinking and brawling), but the rest of the pilots were remarkable mostly for their skill.
Sold to CHINA, for sure. To be used against OUR very own pilots.
Same with the Lavi; thrown into the laps of our enemies.
Thanks, Israel.
Right. Just like those Arab desert traders who discovered the downed Israeli jet in "The Sum of All Fears."
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