Cinema and aviation, two revolutions that transformed the 20th century, have woven a unique and fascinating bond. Aviation, as a symbol of innovation and freedom, has provided cinema with endless inspiration, while cinema, as a medium of immense cultural power, has shaped our perception of aviation and its relentless pursuit of progress.
Aviation, representing innovation, freedom, and adventure, has served as a wellspring of inspiration for countless stories in cinema. From adrenaline-fueled action films set in the skies to romantic dramas unfolding against the backdrop of long flights, aviation has provided cinema with a diverse range of settings, plots, and unforgettable characters.
Simultaneously, cinema has shaped cultural perceptions of aviation, often portraying it as a glamorous and exhilarating activity. Cinematic images of heroic pilots and elegant flight attendants have profoundly influenced how people perceive the world of aviation.
Cinema and aviation together have sparked inspiration and innovation in various fields. Science fiction films have presented futuristic visions of spaceflight, igniting the imaginations of scientists and engineers, politicians and educators.
Cinema and aviation, much like the Age of Exploration and the Renaissance, are distinct expressions of humanity's ceaseless drive to innovate, explore, and transcend boundaries. Aviation, akin to the voyages of the explorers during the Age of Discovery, has enabled humanity to reach new horizons, quite literally, and expand its perspectives. Cinema, like the perspective and art of the Renaissance, has opened a window into new worlds of imagination and creation, shaping our perception of reality. Now, quantum theory represents the new "Age of Exploration", promising breakthroughs in science, medicine, and technology. Similar to these historical periods, it challenges the limits of our thinking and invites us to envision a future where possibilities once deemed impossible become reality.
The connection between quantum computing and the Renaissance period might seem tenuous at first glance, yet a central point of similarity lies in their emphasis on three-dimensionality as a key tool for understanding the world.
In the Renaissance, the discovery of scientific perspective allowed artists to represent the world more realistically, utilizing depth and three-dimensionality in their paintings. This breakthrough led to a revolution in art, architecture, and the perception of space in general.
Similarly, quantum computing is based on quantum principles that enable the representation of information in a more complex and multi-dimensional manner than classical computing. This ability to process information in such a way opens doors to unprecedented developments in numerous fields, from medicine (developing new drugs) and materials science, from creating materials with enhanced properties to the discovery of new scientific breakthroughs. Just as the Age of Exploration, where 3D, in the sense of mapping the world and understanding its spherical shape, led to the discovery of new places and broadened horizons, so too might quantum computing, with its unique multi-dimensional capabilities, lead us to a new era of discoveries and technological advancements.
Quantum computing is a groundbreaking field that harnesses the principles of quantum mechanics, which is based on the electrons of an atom, rearranged to perform calculations. Unlike conventional computers that rely on "bits" which can only be 0 or 1, quantum computers utilize "qubits''. These qubits can exist in a state of superposition, meaning they can be both 0 and 1 simultaneously. Another unique property of qubits is "entanglement", which allows them to be intimately linked, so that an action on one qubit instantaneously affects all other entangled qubits, regardless of the distance between them.
This computation is carried out in conditions of near absolute zero temperature, which provides the electrons with a stable three-dimensional environment. Their operation within this three-dimensional space allows them to encompass any subject from all angles. The result is that they are capable of creating a perfect representation of reality. Because of this, some researchers compare the operation of a quantum computer to the operation of the entire universe.
It will be possible to create an accurate picture of the world through them, since their computing units are electrons, like the atomic particles that make up the universe.
The size of quantum computers is growing exponentially. This is due to their fundamental structure, which is based on qubits. Unlike bits in classical computers, which can only be 0 or 1, qubits can be 0, 1, or both simultaneously. This unique property, which allows quantum computers to represent multiple values at the same time, means that as more qubits are added to a quantum computer, the number of possible states increases exponentially. For example, a quantum computer with 3 qubits can be in one of 8 possible states, while a quantum computer with 30 qubits can be in one of a billion possible states.
As a result, the power of a quantum computer is millions of times greater than that of a classical computer. Problems that would take today's supercomputers many years to solve, or that they are not capable of solving at all, can be solved by a quantum computer in an instant.
In the realm of the personal online universe, quantum computing will have a profound impact. Higher quality streaming, coupled with new algorithms for data analysis and machine learning, will enhance the ability of social networks and artificial intelligence applications to understand users and provide them with personalized content. Virtual reality worlds will become far more realistic. Telepathic communication, and even interstellar communication, will become practical.
One of the most prominent areas where quantum computing may greatly assist is in the development of atomic fusion reactors, which produce controlled atomic energy, in contrast to the atomic bomb that releases uncontrolled energy. Already today, such experimental reactors produce, for a very short time, a greater amount of energy than that required to produce it. Such reactors could be used to produce unlimited electricity. Such a fusion reactor could also be used as an engine for aircraft.
In the field of cinema, quantum computing will enable the creation of virtual worlds, animations, and special effects that are far more realistic and spectacular. Films in three-dimensional holograms that look exactly like reality, from a different angle on each side, without the need to use 3D glasses, will be perfected. Autonomous creation of films, whereby the filmmaker feeds a few minimal basic data into the computer, and it uses them to create a long and detailed film, will be easy and impressive.
The development and implementation of quantum computers is already well underway. Governments of superpowers like the US and China, companies like Google and Microsoft, and various research institutes have already established quantum computers with substantial investments. There is intense competition in this field, based on the certainty that whoever dominates this domain will also dominate global science and technology, security and cyber, energy, and economy. The development of metals and medicines, engineering and economic calculations, algorithms and encryption, are some of the immediate areas where quantum computing has the potential to revolutionize.
The quantum revolution is a foreseeable and well-founded process that has passed the experimental stage. The expectation is that by 2030 they will become widespread, and their areas of application will greatly expand, with interaction with them becoming as commonplace as with classical computers.
Saturday, January 11, 2025
Quantum Theory, Computing and Flight
Monday, December 23, 2024
Light and Flight
The word "light" holds a fascinating duality, encompassing both "illumination" and "lightness." An additional layer in English, "flight," adds a captivating dimension of escape, ascension, and soaring, much like the act of flying. This connection between light, lightness, and flight recurs throughout history in numerous works and can also be found in the works of great thinkers.
For instance, Albert Einstein incorporated "light" into his famous equation, E=MC², thereby linking the immense energy contained within matter to the speed of light. His theory of relativity demonstrates how movement at high velocities, approaching the speed of light, affects the perception of time and space, creating a sense of expansion and elevation, a kind of "flight" into new realms of cosmic understanding.
Similar to Einstein, the Greek poet Odysseus Elytis connected the external light, the bright sunlight of Greece, with the lightness of the soul and its liberation from the heavy mass of the oppressive past. His work is akin to a journey, a poetic "flight," in which a person rises above the shadows of the past, shakes off the weight of burdens, and ascends toward light and freedom. His poems are filled with images of light, sea, sky, and birds, symbolizing the aspiration for spiritual elevation, to escape ("flight") from the confining reality into the expanses of imagination and creation.
The connection between light, lightness, and "flight" is also distinctly expressed in the art of cinema. Cinema, as an art based on light and shadow, uses lighting to create atmosphere, emphasize emotions, and tell a story. Moreover, camera movement, which often simulates the motion of flight or hovering, contributes to the sense of "flight," of detachment from the ground and from everyday reality. Many films use visual imagery of flight, either explicitly, such as in scenes of airplane or spaceship flights, or implicitly, through high-angle shots, flowing camera movements, and the use of special effects that create an illusion of levitation. In many films, physical or metaphorical flight serves as a means of expressing the desire for freedom, spiritual elevation, and the crossing of boundaries.
The connection between "light" in its various meanings – illumination, lightness, and "flight" (escape, aviation) – highlights the link between the physical world, the world of matter and energy, and the spiritual world, the world of emotion and imagination. Sunlight, as well as cinematic light, as a symbol of knowledge, truth, and freedom, enables "flight," the spiritual elevation and liberation from all that binds us, whether it be physical or emotional weight.
Saturday, September 21, 2024
The Spiral Structure of Knowledge
The Circular Being:
Visual thinking makes extensive use of geometric shapes, and the circle is one of the most common. The circle is a geometric form with an immense influence on our lives. The circle, a perfect circular shape, is found everywhere around us, both in nature and in the man-made world.
Gaston Bachelard, in his book "The Poetics of Space," writes that being is circular. Circularity is built and developed in consciousness, becoming its permanent and established form, not as a simple fact but as a phenomenological thought, allowing us to affirm our existence from within.
The central poetic example he provides is that of the bird, which is complete circularity, the circular life. The bird is almost entirely spherical. It is a model of existence. Although the bird is perceived in flight as an arrow shot through the air, in its cosmic state, as a concentration of life protected on all sides, it is the being of circular life.
The Spiral - From Simple Circle to Complex Form:
The simple yet perfect shape of the circle allows for the creation of a wide variety of more complex geometric shapes, based on a circle with a center. Hurricanes, wheels, propellers, camera lenses, and film reels - these are just a few of the many examples of the various appearances of the centered circle in everyday life.
A Universal Symbol of Growth and Knowledge
The spiral is one of the most important geometric shapes in human culture. It is constructed from a circle that begins at a central point and develops in a continuous line of increasingly larger circles to the outer edges. The unique shape of the spiral represents a unique knowledge structure and is widely used in many fields, such as art, architecture, and science.
From Propellers to Film Reels
Piston-engine propeller planes are an example of the integration between technology and a spiral knowledge structure. The propeller at the front of the plane symbolizes the rotational movement that characterizes the spiral shape. Nowadays, jet engines are common, whose propellers are not visible and are hidden within a casing. The helicopter, on the other hand, with its giant overhead rotor, continues to represent the evolving rotational movement.
The Celluloid Reel
Pre-digital cinema was characterized by large and heavy celluloid film reels that were installed in cameras and projectors. These reels are a representation of the spiral knowledge structure, as they contain ever-evolving content, from the beginning of the reel at its outer edge to its end at its center.
Further Examples of the Spiral Form:
The Ear
In the human body, the ear has a spiral shape. The ear closely resembles the posture of a fetus in its mother's womb.
Bird Thermals
Birds have been an avid subject of research and a source of knowledge since ancient times. Bird thermals have a spiral structure. Heavy birds, such as storks and eagles, need rising warm air currents to progress in their migrations. These warm air currents are created in the late morning hours when the ground heats up. During migration seasons, one can witness huge flocks of birds accumulating vertically and in an ever-growing circular motion until they reach the height where the warm air current ceases. From this point, they glide in the desired direction.
Thermals, as a meteorological phenomenon, were discovered in Germany in the late 1920s by glider pilots in the Rhön Mountains. This discovery made the sport of gliding much more significant. Glider pilots soared for many hours, covering distances of hundreds of kilometers and crossing national borders.
In powered aviation, there are "holding patterns" before landing, where planes circle the runway until, at the appropriate moment, they approach and descend towards it.
In Culture
Spiral labyrinths were known in ancient times. In the Middle Ages, spiral labyrinths were built in churches and served as a means for a symbolic journey to the center of the soul. From the European Renaissance onwards, the spiral labyrinth was constructed in magnificent gardens, composed of intricate paths separated by high hedges. Navigating a complex labyrinth has become a popular form of leisure to this day. Labyrinths are an integral part of the world of computer games and as a method of brain training for problem-solving.
However, although the spiral labyrinth is considered an integral part of culture, only a few books have been written about it. Postmodern thinkers mention the spiral, but they hardly discuss it beyond its basic presentation in various phenomena.
Various national, civilian, and military emblems reference the spiral shape. The rosette form, consisting of three circles of different colors nested within each other, which appears as a symbol on the fuselage of British and French aircraft, simulates the spiral shape. The swastika is another image.
Center-Periphery Relations
Center-periphery relations are a central component of human society. These relationships are also known as the "centripetal-centrifugal" pair of forces. Movement is possible in both directions, from the outside in and vice versa. These relationships exist as verbal and/or visual expressions and are sometimes combined with a distinct vertical dimension, as in the historical social-spatial movement "from village to city," and within the city, from the suburbs to the center.
The dynamics and energies embedded in the movements between the center and the periphery cause the connection between the two ends to be not in a straight line but rather curved, thus creating a spiral structure. The French Revolution, which occurred following the invention of the hot air balloon, is an example of a social-spatial spiral vortex.
The Spiral and Perspective
The spiral and perspective, seemingly two entirely different geometric shapes, share a hidden but significant connection. The spiral, in its constantly winding and expanding form, symbolizes movement, development, and continuous change. Perspective, on the other hand, creates an illusion of depth and dimension on a two-dimensional surface, representing the human attempt to perceive and understand the three-dimensional world around us. The connection between them lies in the perception of movement and change in space. When we observe perspective, our eye moves along the converging perspective lines, experiencing a sense of movement and depth. Similarly, the spiral, in its constant inward or outward motion, creates a sense of progression and regression in space. Both forms, therefore, reflect how we perceive and interpret the world around us, movement, change, and space, and provide us with visual tools to represent them.
The Labyrinth in the Legend of Daedalus and Icarus
In the story of the legend, there is one element, the labyrinth, that has become detached from the legend itself and has become an important model in its own right. The story of the Cretan labyrinth begins with King Minos' disappointment that his wife gave birth to a monstrous son, the Minotaur. He ordered Daedalus to build a spiral maze, the labyrinth, for him, and from time to time, he would sacrifice young Athenians to it, who were sent into its depths. One of them, Theseus, managed to overcome the maze by tying a thread to its entrance, reaching the Minotaur, killing it, and returning safely. Daedalus, fearing for his life, escaped from the island along with his son Icarus using wings he had built. Although seemingly there is no direct connection between the two events in the legend, they are united by the spiral shape, which expresses a journey to freedom.
In Art
The spiral in art can be positive or negative, visual or verbal, outward or inward-facing, and more. In the world of modern art, there are many works based on spirals, but they are usually unexplained and perceived as personal expressions. The spiral in them is seen as an artistic tool.
Religious Circumambulations and Circle Dances
Another type of spiral thought structure manifests in religious circumambulations and circle dances. A prominent example is the circumambulation around the Kaaba in Mecca, where throngs of believers circle the sacred stone, gradually attempting to approach and touch it while spiraling inwards, and then gradually retreat outwards from the circle. In Judaism, during the Simchat Torah celebrations, the Torah scroll holder stands at the center of the dancing circle, surrounded by rings of dancers, each taking turns to approach the center and kiss the scroll.
Other circumambulatory circle dances are more secular but widely practiced. These include dances around a marrying couple, where those closest to them alternate in the inner circle, or dances in alternative celebrations and joyous events, where the person being celebrated stands at the center, switching places after a certain time.
The Spiral Knowledge Structure in Education:
Abstract vs. Concrete Learning
The spiral knowledge structure in education is merely a framework for a predominantly verbal approach. The fundamental visual thinking involved has vanished. This is because the spiral knowledge structure represents abstract thinking, bordering on imagination, and is therefore not suitable for imparting to students within the formal education system.
Building Knowledge Step-by-Step
Educational knowledge structures have the form of a visual spiral ascending upwards. The student begins their studies in small, low circles of knowledge. New and broader circles are added above them, with each one being a continuous extension of the one below it.
Cognitive Constructivism
The organization of human knowledge according to a developing spiral structure is part of the theory of cognitive constructivism in education. The thinkers of this school, John Dewey and Jean Piaget, wisely saw intelligence as a concept that develops according to age, through increasing interaction with the environment. This theory also has moral value, as it identifies deep internalizations of developing knowledge, emotional involvement, and the need for socialization.
From Geography to Medicine
The spiral knowledge structure is very common in the field of pedagogy, but due to its development towards an undefined direction, of infinite knowledge expansion, it is a somewhat vague concept of higher-order thinking. The practical spiral model is mainly implemented in geography studies in field conditions. Such learning begins with a tangible stage of touring the area and ends with an abstract summary in the classroom. It is all done through multidisciplinary dialogue. The model is also applied in medical studies, as it offers, in ascending stages, formal learning, disease recognition, and practical specialization.
Vertigo - The Spiral of Silence:
The Primal Fear of the Void
According to Gaston Bachelard, the experience of imaginary falling, known in psychology as "vertigo," is a primal truth of the dynamic imagination. However, it does not exist in the aerial imagination as an invitation to a journey. For the most part, it is a journey into the void, the pit of absolute emptiness, the infinite fall, the plunge like a stone into the abyss where there is nothing. This is a primitive fear. It is found as a constant component in fears of different kinds, such as the fear of darkness. The subconscious is drawn to this basic life experience, but due to a lack of mental strength, there are no words to describe it.
Mass Media and the Unspoken
The spiral of silence, which is the fear of conceptual loneliness, is important in the study of mass communication, which is visual, associative, and lacks verbal clarifications. The imaginary fall in it often appears in the form of a vortex or a converging spiral.
The Deadly Grip of Vertigo in Flight
The feeling of terror, paralysis, loss of control, disorientation, and loss of connection with reality is a familiar phenomenon among flight and gliding trainees. In the skies, the trainee sometimes finds himself in sudden panic due to the fear of falling. He becomes fixated, in body and mind, on a flight path, unable to deviate from it in the slightest. As a result, he rapidly loses control of the aircraft and falls to his death, to the shock of those watching him.
The Spiral Knowledge Structure in Cinema:
Many filmmakers utilize the spiral knowledge structure in their works. Despite this, only a few books exist on the subject.
Paul Virilio wrote that the purpose of cinema is to evoke an effect of vertigo in viewers. He described the vertigo effect as parallel to the effect created by a missile fired at top speed toward a visual target, causing the heads of all those watching it to spin.
"The Gold Rush" (1925) is an American silent comedy film directed, produced, written by, and starring Charlie Chaplin. The film tells the story of the Tramp, who arrives in Alaska during the Gold Rush and tries to find his fortune while encountering a gallery of characters in the town and on the mountain. The plot develops in an expanding spiral structure, repeatedly returning to the narrative and spatial starting point, the town's inn. The film is considered one of the best of all time.
"Vertigo" (1958) is an American psychological thriller film directed by Alfred Hitchcock, which tells the story of a retired police detective, suffering from vertigo, who is hired by his friend to follow the friend's wife and begins to develop an affair with her. The film deals with the struggle between reality and illusion. This film is also considered one of the best of all time.
"Cold Mountain" (2003) is an epic film that tells the story of a Confederate army deserter at the end of the American Civil War, returning to his beloved, at a time when the South is controlled by extremist police militias. The spiral structure of the film is gradually created, from the soldiers' trenches at the front, through life in the rear, to the top of the mountain, where a fateful duel takes place.
"Eye in the Sky" (2015) is the most important of all the films made about drones. The film depicts a military operation conducted remotely using drones and cyberspace. A British colonel seeks to launch a drone missile at a house in Nairobi where terrorists are located, but there is a risk of harming a little girl. The spiral knowledge structure is prominent in the film. Center-periphery relations are presented in the plot as contrasts. The scenes from the center to the periphery and vice versa build the plot's progression. In parallel to the narrative, the cinematography in many scenes is also spiral, with the camera moving in and out between a focal point and open spaces.
The "James Bond" film series begins with a recurring opening sequence where the hero is seen through the barrel of a gun with a spiral groove.
The structure of a classic thriller film script, which begins with a broad presentation of the plot's theme, both verbally and visually, and continues with a search and investigation process from mystery to its resolution, necessitates extensive use of the spiral knowledge structure. The spiral knowledge structure in them, which develops between the concrete and the abstract, compensates for inevitable visual deficiencies.
Saturday, September 14, 2024
The Mirage - an Airplane That Had a State
The Development of Fighter Aircraft in the Context of Long-Term Historical Processes:
Fighter Aircraft - A Mirror of Geopolitical Change
The development of fighter aircraft typically occurs within the framework of an international arms race. This race is influenced by numerous political, economic, and technological factors, and it evolves over time. Military requirements change over time, in accordance with shifts in security perceptions and geopolitical threats. The development of fighter aircraft must adapt to these requirements and is therefore influenced by broader social and political factors.
The High Cost and Long-Term Impact of Fighter Aircraft Development
The development of fighter aircraft is a very expensive project, requiring significant government and industrial investments. The process takes a long time and requires continuous support over many years. It has a significant impact on society and the economy. It leads to the creation of new jobs, drives research and development in other fields, and contributes to overall technological progress. These effects occur over time and are not immediate.
The Multidisciplinary Nature of Fighter Aircraft Development
The design, production, deployment, and upgrading of fighter aircraft are processes based on many fields of knowledge, such as aerodynamics, metallurgy, engines, and electronics. Progress in these fields over time is essential. When an aircraft is successful, its lifespan can span several generations, up to 100 years.
The Long View of History - Understanding Change Over Time
This argument aligns with a theory in historical research that emphasizes the importance of long-term processes and gradual changes in understanding the past. Scholars specializing in this theory use diverse sources, including archival documents alongside statistical data, and they focus on broad structures over time, such as social, economic, and cultural changes. Understanding these processes is crucial for a deeper comprehension of the past and its effects on the present. This theory contrasts with other historical perspectives that focus on specific events and central figures as decisive factors in shaping history.
Mirage 3 - The Key to Air Superiority:
Israel's Guardian Angel
The Mirage 3 reigned supreme in the skies during the 1960s, and Israel acquired a substantial number of them early in that decade.
This aircraft instilled a sense of security in an entire generation of young Israelis who felt that their existence and future were guaranteed because of it.
A popular children's film with a romantic touch, "Shmone Ba'Ikvot Echad" ("Eight in Pursuit of One") [1964], was even made about a spy searching for the aircraft's secrets at a military base, and the children of the nearby kibbutz capturing him.
National Miracle
The delta-winged aircraft was the best interceptor of its time in the Middle Eastern skies and gave Israel air superiority. These planes were the spearhead of the Israeli Air Force in the Six-Day War of 1967 and contributed significantly to the resounding victory in that war. The word "Mirage," meaning "desert illusion", became almost synonymous with the victory.
Israel's Aerospace Ambitions - Taking Flight from the Start:
From its earliest days, Israel invested in the indigenous development of aircraft, despite the endeavor being considered a highly expensive and volatile startup. Ben Gurion Airport in Lod became the central hub for the Israeli aerospace industry, which today stands as one of the most advanced in the world.
Mirage 5 Evolution - From Interceptor to Attacker
The Mirage 5 aircraft was designed by the Israeli aerospace industry before the Six-Day War. Israel developed it in collaboration with France, as early as 1966, as an improved version of the Mirage 3, intended for air-to-ground attacks. The Mirage 5s were revolutionary compared to the Mirage 3s, which were primarily designed for interception. The Mirage 5 could carry 4 tons of bombs compared to only one ton carried by the Mirage 3, and it was much cheaper and simpler.
From Embargo to the Birth of the Nesher
On the eve of the Six-Day War, France, which was Israel's sole supplier of aircraft at the time, imposed an embargo on arms shipments to the Middle East, preventing the delivery of the 50 Mirage 5s that Israel had ordered. After the war, Israel managed to obtain, through indirect means, all the aircraft's blueprints and produced it in the early 1970s under the name "Nesher." This was despite the complex moral dilemma involved in manufacturing without obtaining the patents and production rights.
"Israel is an Airplane" - The Kfir's Legacy
In the second phase, Israel developed a semi-original version of the aircraft, with an American engine, under the name "Kfir." It produced a considerable number of them, based on its security needs, and even exported them to several countries, where some of them are still in service today. The investment in the "Kfir" was enormous and required a reorganization of the aerospace industry. It gave rise to the expression that "Israel is an airplane that has a country."
Mirage of Security:
The Sinai Dream
The phrase "a plane that has a country" held a deeper meaning for Israel. The aspiration to produce a large and powerful fleet of "Nesher" and "Kfir" aircraft, providing the nation with long-term security, merged with a broader political outlook that rejected confronting the complex reality in the territories captured during the Six-Day War. The triangular shape of the Sinai Peninsula seemed to mirror the wings of the Mirage, becoming a sort of "desert mirage."
Military Over Diplomacy
This imagery served as the foundation for official policy, disregarding peace proposals offered by Egypt and the U.S. Without a concrete plan for the future of the territories, Israel relied on its military might, particularly its domestically produced Mirage 5 aircraft with their long-range strike capabilities, as a deterrent against any potential attack.
Flawed Intelligence
A small group of senior intelligence officers formulated a "conception" supporting this approach. They argued that as long as Egypt also lacked long-range strike aircraft, it wouldn't dare attack Israel. This notion, based on an illusion of military and territorial superiority, was endorsed by the political leadership and led to a situation where, on the eve of the Yom Kippur War, abstract concepts overshadowed practical considerations in national security perception. The eve of the war, which broke out on October 6, 1973, found Israel in a state of surprising unpreparedness.
The Mirage 5's Legacy:
French Betrayal - Egypt's Armament with Mirage 5
As early as 1970, a deal was struck between France and Libya, an enemy of Israel and an ally of Egypt, for the supply of 110 Mirage 5 aircraft, an improved copy of the planes Israel itself had designed. Given the precedent of Israel stealing the aircraft's plans, the French likely did this without any qualms. This was despite the fact that these planes were originally intended for Egypt, Israel's arch-enemy. The French embargo on the eve of the Six-Day War also included Egypt. Nevertheless, the planes were gifted to Egypt by Libya, starting in 1972.
Egypt's Military Shift From Soviet to French
Up until then, the Egyptians had relied on Soviet aircraft. They wanted to launch a war against Israel, but the USSR delayed the delivery of modern long-range strike aircraft, such as the MiG and Sukhoi, as it wanted to ensure Egypt's long-term dependence on it. The Egyptians were reluctant to start a war until they had such aircraft, and the Mirage 5s received from Libya became a suitable substitute. The Israeli government and the officers who formulated the "conception" ignored the fact that Egypt was receiving superior strike aircraft from France, in greater quantity and quality than the Soviets had planned to provide.
A Wide Door for Egypt to the West
It's interesting to ponder whether the government and military leaders' disregard for the implications of the deal was intentional. Undoubtedly, it opened a wide door for Egypt to the West, something Israel also desired.
Hostility had prevailed between Egypt and the Western powers since Nasser nationalized the Suez Canal in 1956.
Consequently, a complacent "wait and see" attitude developed among decision-makers. This attitude was incompatible with the vigilance expected of military personnel towards an enemy.
The Yom Kippur War - Yellow Triangles on Israeli Mirages
Just as the Mirage 3s prompted Israel to launch a surprise attack in the Six-Day War, the Mirage 5s motivated the Egyptians to launch a surprise attack on October 6, 1973. They became a central weapon in their arsenal, and during the war, they used them to strike deep into the Sinai Peninsula. To avoid misidentifying the Egyptian Mirages in the air, the Israeli Air Force had to paint the wings of its own Mirages with yellow triangles, reminiscent of the Star of David patches the Nazis forced Jews to sew onto their clothing.
The Mirage's Lingering and painful Impact
In this war, Israel found itself, to its surprise, in a situation where a sophisticated and powerful aircraft it had developed itself, and which was critical to its security, was gifted, in practically unlimited quantities, to the very enemy for which the plane was developed. Moreover, the businessman behind this roundabout deal, who also planned a similar deal with Saudi Arabia, was an Egyptian who was also Israel's top spy. He was close to Egyptian President Sadat and provided Israel with a hasty, last-minute warning about Egypt's intention to go to war. Nevertheless, Israel was surprised and unprepared for the Egyptian surprise attack.
The entire affair, in the spirit of the name "Mirage," became a bitter mirage for the Israeli leadership and significantly impacted its intelligence, military, and political actions to this day.
The Shift in Israel's Military Supply to American Reliance:
Nixon's Ultimatum
At the very start of the French embargo, Prime Minister Golda Meir traveled from Jerusalem to Washington to request an immediate replacement for the Mirage 5. The primary source for Israel's fighter jets became the United States, which supplied it with "Phantom" and "Skyhawk" aircraft, which were also of higher quality. Nixon conditioned the supply on the revocation, under the Law of Return, of the Israeli citizenship of Meyer Lansky, the American-Jewish casino magnate who had aided Israel, through Golda, during its difficult times in the War of Independence.
The Lavi's Legacy - A Dream Fade Out
The phrase "a plane that has a country" is even more fitting for the Israeli aircraft designed in the 1980s to replace the "Kfir" - the "Lavi," which was an original Israeli design from start to finish. The United States partnered in its development and funding. At an advanced stage of development, after the prototype had conducted its maiden flights, the Americans decided to halt funding for the project.
The cancellation of the project diverted thousands of engineers to the high-tech industry, creating the foundation for the Israeli "Startup Nation." Today, no fighter jets are developed or manufactured in the Israeli aerospace industry.
The Lavi and the Mirage 5 are remembered more as mirages. The peace agreement with Egypt, under which Israel returned the entire Sinai Peninsula captured in the Six-Day War, largely contributed to pushing the issue out of historical memory.
Dependence on U.S. Aid
Today, the State of Israel relies on the United States and is entirely dependent on it for the supply of fighter jets. The United States provides it with advanced fighter jets that cost a fortune, and their cost constitutes the majority of the fixed annual military grant to Israel, which amounts to over three billion dollars. The accumulated sum since the grant began, about fifty years ago, reaches hundreds of billions of dollars. It's unknown if and when the tables will turn, and the U.S. administration will decide to reduce or completely eliminate it. The Israeli government and its citizens have become accustomed to taking this grant for granted. If it were to be canceled, the end of the state, as it currently exists, would be swift.
Swift Victories with Lasting Impact
The aerial arms race is expensive and prolonged, but its outcome is often determined within a few hours. The decision is reached based on a slight advantage. In aerial warfare, a slight technological edge, achieved through years of technological effort, is the key to victory.
One recent example is the victory Israel achieved against Iran in the "Swords of Iron" war: Iran launched hundreds of missiles at Israel within a few hours. About 99 percent of them were intercepted by Israel's air defense systems, developed over approximately 30 years. This swift victory may shape the political future of the region for many years to come.
