Amid attempts by some in Israeli society to prevent women from serving in combat roles in the IDF, the air force is quietly establishing a special commando unit, similar to the General Staff Reconnaissance Unit, composed entirely of female soldiers.
The “Arad” unit is the air force’s new intervention force, created due to lessons learned from the October 7 massacre and Operation Iron Swords. The Air Force recognized the need for a dedicated, rapid-response combat force capable of handling infiltration, raids, and terror incidents within and around Air Force bases.
Investigations of October 7 revealed that some Nukhba forces planned attacks on air force bases, including Hatzerim and Tel Nof, and terrorist cells were found with maps of air force bases. These bases are strategic assets of Israel and must be protected to ensure operational continuity at all times.
The new unit operates under the 7th Wing, the air force’s special forces wing, which also includes units such as 669 (airborne rescue) and Shaldag. “Arad” is intended to be a first-response intervention force that arrives at an incident first, isolates the scene, engages the threat, and stabilizes the situation until additional forces arrive.
All-women unit represents shift in IDF mindset
The unit is unique in the IDF landscape as the first air force combat unit composed entirely of women. An IDF official said that its creation represents a broader shift in the mindset of the IDF, and the air force in particular, toward integrating women into significant and complex combat roles.
The air force noted that after the war, there was a significant increase in the number of women motivated to join combat roles. The unit was established to build a high-quality, professional, and dedicated force capable of delivering operational impact, not merely as a symbolic measure. Female recruits are expected to undergo training lasting eight months to a year, covering small-arms warfare, marksmanship, urban warfare, terror-response scenarios, hand-to-hand combat, navigation, camouflage, and mental resilience, making it one of the toughest and most complex training tracks in the IDF.
The air force highlighted that the unit’s main purpose is rapid response, moving from routine to extreme situations within minutes. Recruits must react quickly to infiltration or complex threats at air force bases or other strategic Israeli facilities. As such, training is designed around realistic operational scenarios simulating potential events at air force installations.
Future Arad commanders to be recruited from unit
The first unit commander is a lieutenant-colonel with operational experience in the Shaldag unit. The air force says this reflects the intent to make “Arad” a high-standard unit with procedures that mirror those of elite special forces. The command and training staff also consists of veterans from elite combat units, with plans to fill the lion's share of future leadership positions with women promoted from within the unit.
The name “Arad” was chosen for its symbolic meaning - both as a type of metal historically used for shields and weapons and as a symbol connecting warfare, intelligence, and technology.
The air force sees the unit as part of a broader shift since the war: moving beyond an exclusive focus on aerial power to recognizing the need for fast, multidimensional ground responses to protect strategic assets and military bases.