Israel Air Force Forms All-Women Commando Unit

The unit will handle infiltration, raids, and terror incidents within and around air force installations. It operates under the 7th Wing, which also includes units such as 669 and Shaldag.

The unit was created following investigations into the October 7 massacre that showed some Nukhba forces planned attacks on air force bases including Hatzerim and Tel Nof. Officials said the bases are strategic assets that require continuous protection. Arad is designed to arrive first at an incident, isolate the scene, engage threats, and stabilize the situation until additional forces arrive.

Female recruits will undergo eight months to one year of training covering small-arms warfare, marksmanship, urban warfare, terror-response scenarios, hand-to-hand combat, navigation, camouflage, and mental resilience. The first unit commander is a lieutenant-colonel with operational experience in the Shaldag unit.

Command and training staff include veterans from elite combat units, with plans to promote women from within the unit to future leadership positions. The name Arad was selected for its symbolic meaning as a metal historically used for shields and weapons.