Ramon Air Force Base is an Israeli Air Force base southwest of Beersheba, near the town of Mitzpe Ramon. Also titled Kanaf 25, it was formerly known as Matred. This base was built as the result of joint Israeli and US government funding as part of the IAF's redeployment out of its bases in the Sinai, after the peninsula was handed over to Egypt. It was constructed between 1979 and 1982 and hosts three squadrons equipped with F-16I, and two squadron operating AH-64.