Artillery Corps (Israel)

Active artillery brigades

• [[File:Kela david.png|25px]] 214th Artillery Brigade "David's Sling"
• [[File:Utzbat Amud Haesh Eged 215 Tag.svg|25px]] 215th Artillery Brigade "Amud HaEsh"
• [[File:Hativat Haesh 282.svg|25px]] 282nd Artillery Brigade "Golan"
• [[File:Hatamnew.svg|25px]] 425th Artillery Brigade (Field Artillery School)

Reserve artillery brigades

• [[File:Kidon209.png|25px]] 209th Artillery Brigade "Kidon"
• [[File:Logo-otvat-hatkuma.png|25px]] 213th Artillery Brigade "HaTkuma"
• [[File:Tavor.png|25px]] 454th Artillery Brigade "Tabor"
• [[File:Adirimlogo.png|25px]] 7338th Artillery Brigade "Adirim"

Equipment

The primary equipment used in most regular and reserve batteries is the M109 "Doher" (Galloper) self-propelled howitzer. To assist with ammunition carriage and transport, regular batteries use the M548, a modified version of the M113 carrier, nicknamed "Alpha". Batteries use Humvees and M113 carriers.

Also in service is the M270 MLRS multiple rocket launcher, the Spike NLOS missile system mounted on M113 chassis for precision strike, as well as the Elbit Hermes 450 and IAI Sky Rider UAVs for artillery spotting. On order are the IMI Lynx and IAI JUMPER multiple rocket launchers to bolster its strike capability against enemy positions and rocket-launching cells.

The corps possesses radar and navigation system, some of which are classified.

In 1977, the IDF began developing another self-propelled howitzer, the "Sholef" (Gun-slinger), based on the M109 with a Merkava chassis. The main advantage of the "Sholef" was its self-loading ability, which reduced the number of crewmen from 7 to 4. The project was completed but the IDF decided not to mass-produce the "Sholef" because of its high cost, preferring to purchase the M270 MLRS multiple rocket launcher instead. Its main focus switched to improving the precision systems of the "Doher". The "Sholef" was used operationally only once, in 1990.

In 2010, Israel began an overhaul of the Artillery Corps, based on lessons from the 2006 Lebanon War. The Artillery Corps is being upgraded with new, indigenously produced self-propelled cannons, rockets, missiles produced by Israel's defense industries, which will replace older equipment, as well as state-of-the-art command, control, computers, and communications. Its operational role now reflects a new concept in which artillery is seen as an equal part of the combat force rather than a support element.

Training

The Israeli Artillery Corps holds its basic training, commanders course and officers school at the Field Artillery School (, Bislat), better known as Shivta, after the ancient Nabataean town of the same name.

New recruits go through four months of basic training, in which they learn basic infantry weaponry and drills, as well as basic theoretical artillery training. At the end of the basic training stage, the recruits receive their Turquoise berets, symbolizing their acceptance into the corps. They then advance to four months of advanced training, throughout which they participate in IDF operations. After completing their training, soldiers either join operational batteries or advance to the commanders course, for an additional four months of training.

Commanders

Since 1948, the Israeli Artillery Corps had 26 commanders (Chief Artillery Officer):

• March–April 1948: Lieutenant Colonel Yehuda Ginzburg
• April 1948–1949: Colonel Shmuel Admon
• 1949–1952: Colonel Meir Ilan
• 1952–1957: Colonel Shalom E'iron
• 1957–1961: Colonel Dan Hiram
• 1961–1967: Colonel Israel Ben Amitai
• 1967–1971: Brigadier General Baruch Bruchin
• 1971–1973: Brigadier General Arie Levi
• 1973–1976: Brigadier General Nathan Sharoni
• 1976–1980: Brigadier General Avraham Bar David
• 1980–1983: Brigadier General Arie Mizrachi
• 1983–1986: Brigadier General Oded Tira
• 1986–1989: Brigadier General Shmuel Reshef
• 1989–1993: Brigadier General Doron Kadmiel
• 1993–1995: Brigadier General Yehoshua Dorfman
• 1995–1998: Brigadier General Dan Harel
• 1998–2001: Brigadier General Eli Yafe
• 2001–2005: Brigadier General Dani Kasif
• 2005–2008: Brigadier General Laurence Mualem
• 2008–2009: Brigadier General Mishel Ben Baruch
• 2009–2012: Brigadier General David Swissa
• 2012–2015: Brigadier General Roei Riptin
• 2015–2018: Brigadier General Alon Kloss
• 2018–2020: Brigadier General Aviram Sela
• 2020–2023: Brigadier General Neri Horvitz
• 2023-present: Brigadier General Yair Nathans

Notable alumni

• Dan Harel
• Danny Robas
• Yuval Banay
• Shlomo Artzi
• Yair Nitzani
• Amos Lapidot

References

References

1. "New Israeli Artillery Concepts, Technology Combine".
2. "Operation Cast Lead". Globalsecurity.org.
3. עידן סונסינו. (August 21, 2012). "מפקד זרוע היבשה: חיל התותחנים בכשירות מלאה לכל תרחיש".
4. Yaakov Katz. (August 1, 2011). "IDF unveils special guided missile used in Lebanon, Gaza". [[The Jerusalem Post]].
5. Yaakov Katz. (July 24, 2011). "IDF Issues Tender for Rocket Systems". [[The Jerusalem Post]].