Primary function: Test launch facilities, helicopter base

Description and activities:
A missile test range and space launch facility located near the Palmachim Air Force Base on the coast of Israel south of Tel Aviv and north north-east of Ashdod. The facility is also sometimes referred to as Yavne, which is the urban area near the Soreq nuclear research center. The area is largely covered by sand dunes. The Palmachim Air Force Base was built by the Israeli Defense Forces and Air Force in the 1970s originally as a test site for missiles. Palmachim is also the main IDF/Air Force helicopter base and has 2,000 meter runway. The Palmachim area is used as an artillery range by the Israeli Defense Forces, from the shoreline to a distance of five kilometers offshore.

Reportedly as of the late 1990s, satellite imagery of the area shows an airfield with one runway and seven large hangars inside the security perimeter, which also includes other manufacturing facilities. The missile assembly building and the launch site are at the south end of the facility. The facilities are reportedly visible from the coast road. Space launch activities at Palmachim began with the launch of the Ofeq-1 satellite on 19 September 1988. Launches are restricted to retrograde orbits due to range safety restrictions, which mandate firing westward across the Mediterranean Sea, rather than eastward over neighboring Arab countries. On 15 September 1994, an unacknowledged attempt to launch an Ofek satellite reportedly ended in failure. On 22 January 1998, Israel attempted to launch the Ofek-4 satellite on a Shavit booster from Palmachim. While the first stage of the rocket performed nominally, problems caused the flight to be destroyed two minutes into flight.

The US-backed Arrow anti-ballistic missile system is tested from Palmachim, which is also the site of the launch of target missiles for these tests. The Citron Tree fire-control system and the Green Pine radar, which track the targets, are also reported to be located at Palmachim for these tests.

	Updated April 2004