The Israeli Artillery Corps (, Heil HaTothanim) is the Israel Defense Forces corps responsible for operating medium and long-range artillery.
The corps is tasked with two principal missions: Assisting IDF maneuvering forces, at the place, time and with the firepower required. Paralyzing and destroying enemy targets throughout the IDF zone of operations.
The Artillery Corps is an integral corps of GOC Army Headquarters. It is a diverse corps, with its lion share consisting of high-trajectory barrel artillery. Artillery Corps soldiers wear Turquoise berets.
Active artillery brigades 214th Artillery Brigade "David's Sling" 215th Artillery Brigade "Amud HaEsh" 282nd Artillery Brigade "Golan" 425th Artillery Brigade (Field Artillery School)
Reserve artillery brigades 209th Artillery Brigade "Kidon" 213th Artillery Brigade "HaTkuma" 454th Artillery Brigade "Tabor" 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