 Although formed in 1978, Manat may have its origins in a flight test unit established as early as March 1950.Based at Tel Nof, Manat comprises a flight section, including test pilots and flight testing engineers, a technical section charged with aircraft maintenance, an avionics section, and a UAV section operating from Palmachim.The squadron operates a fully instrumented example of every Israeli Air Force frontline combat aircraft type on strength at any time.