The Jerusalem Post, The Israel Air Force has changed its name, but no one seems to know about it.
In a meeting held recently it was decided to change the name to the Israel Air and Space Force, following years of gradual changes in the military that gave the boys and girls in the blue uniforms more and more control over space-based capabilities.
However, there was no official announcement of the decision and it is not clear if it should be referred to now as the IASF or just the traditional IAF.
Ironically, it was the air force that originally rejected any attempts to host the military's initial venture into space back in the mid-1980s when the Ofek spy satellites were being developed. The IAF then did not want to have its budget cut further by the satellite program. In the end, the satellite program was funded by a special budget in the Ministry of Defense.
By the mid-1990s, when the satellite imagery was being supplied, the IAF was shutting squadrons and the intelligence was relayed to the Intelligence Corps which built ground-based reception centers.
But when Maj.-Gen. Eitan Ben-Eliahu took over he grabbed hold of space and worked hard to have it made an integral part of the IAF. The Intelligence Corps, which paid for the satellite downlink center from its own budget, was in no hurry to give up the capabilities (and control).
Finally, during the overhaul of the IDF under then chief of General Staff Lt.-Gen. Shaul Mofaz, an agreement was made and the air force was given control of all space capabilities and planning in the IDF. The move also coincided with the decision to send Col. Ilan Ramon into space with NASA. At the time, and ever since, the commanders of the IAF have wanted to change the name of the arm to reflect its new, enlarged role. So far this has been laughed off.
But apparently OC Air Force Maj.-Gen. Dan Halutz, who steps down in April, finally won over his colleagues on the General Staff. They decided earlier this week to agree to the name change. Only they didn't tell anyone officially.
Finally, Wednesday night the IDF Spokesman said yes, it was true that a decision had been made to integrate the air force and space commands.
Unofficially, it said, the branch would now be called the Israel Air and Space Force.
Also unofficially, it said it had serious doubts this new name would catch on quickly.
