Israel’s Air Force is moving the 190th “Magic Touch” Squadron from Ramon Air Base to Ramat David Air Base, placing its AH-64A Apache helicopters closer to the northern front. The relocation, announced August 18, 2026, was planned in advance and is unrelated to immediate security concerns, according to the IAF.
The move positions the squadron’s older AH-64A Peten helicopters—operating since 1990—near Lebanon and Syria, reducing transit time and increasing endurance for rapid-response missions. Ramat David, a historic base near Haifa, has long supported northern operations, including strikes against Hezbollah and Hamas. The transfer also disperses Israel’s limited Apache fleet between fronts, improving readiness.
The IAF maintains an active posture in the north, conducting airstrikes and limited ground operations despite no full-scale offensive. The relocation reflects broader efforts to modernize the fleet, including a pending U.S. sale of up to 30 AH-64E Apaches worth $3.8 billion.
