Support Equipment

Boeing 707 Re'em

Also known as
  • Boeing 707
  • Boeing 707 Reem
  • KC-707 Re'em
  • KC-707 Reem
  • KC-707
  • 707 Re'em
  • 707 Reem
  • Re'em
  • Reem
  • Ram
  • Boeing 707 tanker
  • IAF Boeing 707

The Boeing 707 Re'em is Israel's locally converted Boeing 707 tanker and transport aircraft, operated by the Israeli Air Force's 120th Squadron for aerial refueling, long-range support, and communications roles. Built from civil 707 airframes and modified by Israel Aerospace Industries, the Re'em enabled Israeli long-range air operations in the 2023 Red Sea Crisis and the 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict, including documented Yemen strike support and hundreds of refueling connections during Operation Rising Lion.

Boeing 707 Re'em, Aerial refueling tanker and transport aircraft, Support Equipment
Image source: Wikimedia Commons KC-707 Reem 120 Sqdn

Role in Conflicts

2023 Red Sea Crisis
Mobility & Logistics
Side
Israel

CNN reported from aboard an Israeli Boeing 707 tanker during the September 2024 Hodeidah mission, while TWZ identified the IAF 707 refueling F-35s over the Red Sea as part of the Yemen strike package.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United States / Israel
Type
Aerial refueling tanker and transport aircraft
Service note
Israeli service from the 1970s into current long-range air operations
Designer
Boeing civil 707 airframe; Israel Aerospace Industries tanker conversion
Designed
Boeing 707 first flight on 1957-12-20; Israeli tanker conversions entered service from the late 1970s
Produced
Boeing 707 family production in the jetliner era; Israeli tanker conversions and upgrades continued from former civil airframes
Developed from
Boeing 707 commercial jetliner

Specifications

Operator
Israeli Air Force 120th Squadron, "Desert Giants"
Base airframe
Boeing 707-300-series civil jetliner airframes converted for tanker service
Conversion
Israel Aerospace Industries aerial-refueling conversion from former commercial aircraft
Primary role
Boom aerial refueling for fighter aircraft on long-range missions
Refueling station
Remote vision system with cabin boom-operator controls and 3D viewing aids described in CNN and TWZ reporting
Secondary roles
Transport, command-and-control, and communications-node duties described in specialist reporting
Crew stations
Flight deck plus dedicated refueling boom/operator station and mission crew as required
Configuration notes
Some Re'em aircraft retain reconfigurable cabin space and removable internal fuel tanks according to public reporting
Survivability
IAI says Re'em aircraft have self-protection systems against shoulder-launched missiles but remain large, non-maneuvering tanker targets
Representative 707-320B dimensions
Boeing 707-300 family; public airport-planning and civil-spec references put 707-320B-class aircraft around 46.6 m long with a 44.4 m wingspan
Representative powerplant
Four Pratt & Whitney JT3D-family turbofans on 707-300-series airframes, depending on subtype and conversion
Tanker Role And Limits

The Re'em is best read as an enabling airpower platform rather than a strike aircraft. IAI's Operation Rising Lion account emphasizes the tanker crews' route planning, repeated boom connections, and need to keep large 707 airframes outside the most dangerous air-defense envelopes while still supporting long fighter sorties.

Primary mission

Aerial refueling for Israeli combat aircraft, with secondary transport and communications-node utility described in public reporting.

Conversion path

Former civil Boeing 707 airframes were modified in Israel by Israel Aerospace Industries rather than produced as new-build tankers.

Remote vision station

CNN and TWZ describe the boom operator using a camera-fed remote vision system and 3D goggles from the main cabin during long-range refueling work.

Operational constraint

IAI noted the aircraft's large radar signature and limited missile-evasion ability, making route selection and stand-off positioning central to wartime use.

Variants

Re'em is an Israeli tanker conversion rather than a single factory-new Boeing military model. Public photos and airframe histories identify multiple 707-300-series subtypes in Israeli service.

VariantConfigurationDesignation notes
Boeing 707-3J6C(KC) Re'emIsraeli tanker conversion

Wikimedia Commons and spotter-derived image metadata identify Israeli 120 Squadron aircraft 264 as a Boeing 707-3J6C(KC) Re'em tanker.

Sources: Wikimedia Commons KC-707 Reem 120 Sqdn

Boeing 707-3L6C(KC) Re'emIsraeli tanker conversion

Commons metadata for aircraft 272 traces a 707-3L6C airframe through commercial operators before Israeli tanker conversion and 120 Squadron service.

Sources: Wikimedia Commons Boeing KC-707 Reem 272

Boeing 707-3P1C(KC) Re'emIsraeli tanker conversion

Commons imagery from IDF/IAF material identifies aircraft 275 as a Boeing 707-3P1C(KC) Re'em configured for aerial refueling.

Sources: Wikimedia Commons Boeing 707-3P1C KC No.275

Supported Aircraft

Public sources describe the Re'em as an aerial-refueling platform for Israeli combat aircraft; these links are relationship context, not a claim that every receiver listed used the tanker in every conflict.

Compatible itemItem typeCompatibility evidence
F-35I Adir, Israeli F-35A-derived stealth multirole fighter, Aircraft & UAVsF-35I AdirStealth multirole fighter

IAF material describes Re'em Boeing 707 refueling as part of Adir F-35I training and operational qualification, tying the tanker to Israel's F-35I receiver fleet.

Sources: IAF Another Step Towards IOC

F-15I Ra'am, Two-seat long-range strike fighter, Aircraft & UAVsF-15I Ra'amLong-range strike fighter

The War Zone describes the Re'em as supporting long-range strike operations and providing refueling and communications support for tactical aircraft including F-15-family fighters.

Sources: The War Zone inside Israeli 707 tankers

Timeline

Boeing 707 Re'em Key Events

  1. Boeing 707 first flight

    Boeing's 707 airport-planning material and historical references place the 707 family in the first generation of long-range jet transports later adapted into multiple military roles.

    Sources: Boeing 707 airport planning manual

  2. Israeli 707 tanker service begins

    The War Zone summarized the IAF 707 Re'em fleet as entering service in 1979 after Israel acquired civil airframes and had them converted locally for aerial refueling by Israel Aerospace Industries.

    Sources: The War Zone inside Israeli 707 tankers

  3. Tail 140 retired

    The IAF said Re'em tail number 140, integrated into the force in 1979, departed service in March 2019 after decades as a converted civil transport and refueling tanker.

    Sources: IAF Final Departure

  4. KC-46 selected as future replacement

    The IAF described the KC-46 procurement as the planned replacement for current Re'em Boeing 707 aircraft operated by the 120th Desert Giants Squadron.

    Sources: IAF Boeing KC-46 next tanker

  5. Yemen strike tanker mission

    CNN reported from aboard an Israeli Boeing 707 tanker during the long-range mission to Hodeidah, and TWZ described IAF 707 refueling support for F-35s over the Red Sea.

    Sources: CNN WRAL aboard Israeli tanker Yemen strike, TWZ Israeli 707 tanker Yemen raid

  6. Operation Rising Lion support

    IAI reported that the Re'em fleet carried out dozens of refueling sorties and more than 700 refueling connections during wartime operations over Iran.

    Sources: IAI Reem aircraft fueling massive operation, Ynet Reem refueling jets over Iran

Media

Boeing 707 Re'em Images

Boeing 707 Re'em, Aerial refueling tanker and transport aircraft, Support Equipment - view 1
Source: Wikimedia Commons Boeing KC-707 Reem 272
Related Weapon Systems
F-15I Ra'am, Two-seat long-range strike fighter, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsF-15I Ra'amTwo-seat long-range strike fighterThe F-15I Ra'am is Israel's F-15E-derived two-seat strike fighter, built in the United States with Israeli-specific avionics, communications, electronic-warfare, and helmet-sight equipment. Open-source records tie the 69th Squadron aircraft to long-range strike and interdiction roles from the 2006 Lebanon War through Gaza, Hezbollah, Red Sea/Yemen, and Iran operations, while Boeing and Israeli-reference sources describe the original 25-aircraft fleet, F100-PW-229 engines, APG-70 radar, and precision-weapon compatibility.
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Sources

IAI Reem aircraft fueling massive operationPublisher: Israel Aerospace Industries | Note: Supports 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict direct use by Israeli Re'em aircraft, including wartime aerial-refueling connections, long sorties, route planning, tanker vulnerability, and IAI support context. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Ynet Reem refueling jets over IranPublisher: Ynetnews | Note: Supports 2025 Israel-Iran Conflict direct use by Israeli Re'em 707 tankers during Operation Rising Lion, including more than 700 midair refueling hookups and long-range support over Iran. | Accessed: 2026-07-03The War Zone inside Israeli 707 tankersPublisher: The War Zone | Note: Supports Re'em fleet background, 1979 service-entry context, IAI conversion, former civil-airframe origin, and tanker, transport, communications, and command-and-control roles. | Accessed: 2026-07-03CNN WRAL aboard Israeli tanker Yemen strikePublisher: CNN / WRAL | Note: Supports 2023 Red Sea Crisis direct use by an Israeli Boeing 707 tanker during the September 2024 Hodeidah strike mission, including in-flight refueling of F-35s and the tanker route toward Yemen. | Accessed: 2026-07-03TWZ Israeli 707 tanker Yemen raidPublisher: The War Zone | Note: Supports 2023 Red Sea Crisis direct use by Israeli Boeing 707 tankers during the September 2024 Yemen strike package and background on the Re'em remote vision system. | Accessed: 2026-07-03IAF Boeing KC-46 next tankerPublisher: Israeli Air Force | Note: Supports the Re'em Boeing 707 as the IAF tanker being replaced by KC-46 aircraft and operated by the 120th Desert Giants Squadron. | Accessed: 2026-07-03IAF Final DeparturePublisher: Israeli Air Force | Note: Supports Re'em tail number 140 retirement context and the aircraft's identity as a civil transport converted into a refueling tanker. | Accessed: 2026-07-03IAF Another Step Towards IOCPublisher: Israeli Air Force | Note: Supports the Re'em Boeing 707 relationship with F-35I Adir refueling qualification. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Boeing 707 airport planning manualPublisher: Boeing | Note: Supports Boeing 707 family specification context and the use of Boeing's airport-planning data as a conservative baseline for representative 707 dimensions. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Wikimedia Commons KC-707 Reem 120 SqdnPublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports the primary image, CC BY 2.0 licensing, and image metadata identifying a Boeing KC-707 Re'em of Israeli Air Force 120 Squadron. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Wikimedia Commons Boeing KC-707 Reem 272Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image licensing and aircraft 272 metadata describing a 707-3L6C airframe converted for Israeli 120 Squadron tanker service. | Accessed: 2026-07-03Wikimedia Commons Boeing 707-3P1C KC No.275Publisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports variant context for an Israeli Boeing 707-3P1C(KC) Re'em photographed with its refueling boom extended. | Accessed: 2026-07-03