116 Squadron (Israel)

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116 Squadron of the Israeli Air Force, nicknamed Lions of the South, is a fighter squadron based at Nevatim Airbase. It currently flies the F-35I Adir stealth fighter, but has a long history with many aircraft.

Formation and early years
- The squadron began in 1956 as a P-51 Mustang unit called the Flying Wing Squadron, established at Tel Nof (Ekron) to act as an emergency deployment squadron. Its first commander was Major Tzaik Yavne, with Lt. Amitai Hasson as the main regular pilot.
- In Operation Kadesh, the squadron helped start the war by tearing Egyptian telephone cables in Sinai with propellers, cutting the link between the Egyptian army in Sinai and Cairo. The unit flew 66 sorties; six planes were lost, one pilot was killed, and one was captured.
- The squadron received aircraft from other groups in 1957 and added Harvard trainers in 1959. In 1961 the Mustang era ended and the squadron briefly closed, then was re‑established later that year at Hatzor with Mystère IV jets from Squadron 101 before moving back to Tel Nof.

Six-Day War and after
- In the 1967 Six‑Day War, the squadron conducted hundreds of sorties, including striking Fayed Airport; several squadron members were wounded or killed, and losses included aircraft and pilots.
- Later in 1967 the unit helped respond to Jordanian armor during the Umm Short incident. The squadron then began transitioning to Skyhawk aircraft, while continuing to operate through the War of Attrition in the late 1960s.

Transition to Skyhawk era and Nevatim move
- The Mystère jets left the squadron in 1971 as Skyhawk Model H aircraft arrived. The squadron fought in the Yom Kippur War under different command, with some losses and captured pilots.
- After the war, it moved to newer Skyhawk models (Model N) and operated as the Skyhawk Squadron for many years. In 1983 it became the first squadron to move to Nevatim Airbase, and in 1985 it became a KAM squadron (advanced training).

F-16 era and later
- By 2002 the Skyhawk era ended, and in 2003 the squadron received F-16A/B Fighting Falcons, earning the name Defenders of the South.
- In 2013 the Hawk jets from Squadron 140 were added to its ranks, and in 2015 the squadron was renamed as its Hawk era ended.

Modern era and the F-35
- The squadron was revitalized with the arrival of the F-35I Adir stealth fighters and now operates as a stealth fighter squadron from Nevatim, maintaining its Lions of the South nickname.