Editing Israel Defense Forces (section)

===Turkey===
{{Further|Israel–Turkey relations}}
Israel has provided extensive military assistance to Turkey. Israel sold Turkey [[IAI Heron]] [[Unmanned aerial vehicle]]s, and modernized Turkey's [[F-4 Phantom]] and [[Northrop F-5]] aircraft at the cost of $900&nbsp;million. Turkey's [[main battle tank]] is the Israeli-made [[Sabra (tank)|Sabra]] tank, of which Turkey has 170. Israel later upgraded them for $500&nbsp;million. Israel has also supplied Turkey with Israeli-made missiles, and the two nations have engaged in naval cooperation. Turkey allowed Israeli pilots to practice long-range flying over mountainous terrain in Turkey's Konya firing range, while Israel trains Turkish pilots at Israel's computerized firing range at [[Nevatim Airbase]].<ref>Nechmani, 1988, p. 24.</ref><ref>Pipes, 1997, p. 34.</ref> Until 2009, the Turkish military was one of Israel's largest defence customers. Israel defence companies have sold unmanned aerial vehicles and long-range targeting pods.<ref>{{cite web |last=Katz |first=Yaakov |url=http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=235160 |title=Despite strained ties, IDF attache welcomed in Turkey |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=24 August 2011 |access-date=20 July 2013 |archive-date=17 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117112424/http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=235160 |url-status=live }}</ref>

However, relations have been strained in recent times. Since 2010 the Turkish military has declined to participate in the annual joint naval exercise with Israel and the United States.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Israel, Greece Conduct Joint Naval Drill Amid Ongoing Tension With Turkey |url=https://www.haaretz.com/2012-04-01/ty-article/israel-greece-conduct-joint-naval-drill-amid-ongoing-tension-with-turkey/0000017f-e691-df2c-a1ff-fed1a2ad0000 |access-date=2024-02-28 |work=Haaretz |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=13 March 2017 |title=Israel to Stage Naval Drill with US, Greece |url=https://www.israeldefense.co.il/en/node/28827 |website=Israel Defense}}</ref> The exercise, known as "Reliant Mermaid" was started in 1998 and included the Israeli, Turkish and American navies.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-08-04 |title=Turkey absent again from naval drills with Israel, US |url=https://www.jpost.com/defense/turkey-absent-again-from-naval-drills-with-israel-us |access-date=2024-02-28 |website=The Jerusalem Post {{!}} JPost.com |language=en}}</ref> The objective of the exercise is to practice search-and-rescue operations and to familiarize each navy with international partners who also operate in the [[Mediterranean Sea]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Katz |first=Yaakov |url=http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=232401 |title=Turkey absent again from naval drills with Israel, US |work=The Jerusalem Post |date=9 July 2013 |access-date=20 July 2013 |archive-date=17 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117112322/http://www.jpost.com/Defense/Article.aspx?id=232401 |url-status=live }}</ref>