Key Points – The Israeli Air Force (IAF), a critical pillar of Israel’s defense, is spearheading “Operation Rising Lion,” the massive air assault on Iran’s nuclear program that began on June 12-13.
-The IAF’s fleet includes hundreds of advanced, US-made fighter jets that have been customized with Israeli technology.
-The F-35I “Adir” stealth fighter is a key asset in this operation, likely used to penetrate Iranian airspace and neutralize air defenses, paving the way for follow-on strikes by F-15 and F-16 jets.
-This complex operation, involving around 200 aircraft against 100 targets, demonstrates the IAF’s precision and strategic importance.
Israel’s Air Force, The Pillar Of the IDF’s Defenses
The Israeli Air Force (IAF) is a critical part of Israel’s defenses. It was established in 1948, based on the structure of the British Air Force. At the time, it consisted of a small number of pilots who brought with them a collection of valuable skills and capabilities, along with a limited number of aircraft.
The IAF has played a pivotal role in nearly all IDF operations since the country’s establishment. It has intercepted enemy aircraft, provided ground support, produced mission-critical intelligence, and conducted strikes for defense within and beyond Israel’s borders.
Current Inventory Of Combat Aircraft
The Israelis have several hundred combat fighter aircraft of American manufacture that they have modified for their own use.
The IAF currently has 66 F-15 fighters of various models but has 25 of the improved F-15EX Eagle on order. The backbone of the air fleet is the F-16, whose multirole usage has been extremely valuable. The IAF has 174 F-16s in its air fleet.
The aircraft Israel plans to replace the F-16 with is the F-35I Adir. The F-35I Lightning II is a fifth-generation Israeli variant known as the F-35I Adir, or “the Mighty One.” The F-35 is an American-manufactured single-seat, single-engine, supersonic stealth strike fighter built by Lockheed Martin.
Israel currently has 45 F-35I Adir aircraft but plans to purchase an additional 30 or more.
Meet The F-35I Adir, The Israeli Variant
The Israelis purchased the F-35 from the United States in 2010 and wanted to install their electronic warfare systems into the Lightning’s built-in electronic suite. However, they wanted a plug-and-play feature added to the main computer to allow for the use of Israeli electronics as add-ons and to fit a proprietary external jamming pod.
Initially, the US objected to any modifications, but in 2011, they relented, and Lockheed Martin constructed the aircraft, which was then headed to Israel, where Israeli electronic systems were installed. In addition, the US allowed Israel to mount their missiles.
And the Israeli variant might be even better than the original design. Some of these changes involved specific countermeasures and sensors tailored to Israel’s needs, such as helmet-mounted displays and other data-gathering and processing capabilities.
Pilots can use the platform’s electronics suite to jam enemy anti-aircraft weapons’ guidance systems and electronics.
Late last year, the IAF made a massive airstrike inside Iran, and the F-35s showed their true capabilities. Iran and Syria had formidable air defenses created by the Russians, and those were destroyed easily without any losses on the Israeli side. The F-35I went undetected.
Ongoing Combat Operations Inside Iran
The Israeli Air Force conducted airstrikes against Iranian military positions, ballistic missiles, attack drone capabilities, and air defenses as the IDF on Friday said the whole military, air force, and nation of Israel are in a historic moment to remove the threats posed by Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missiles.
The Israel Air Force and IDF Intelligence Directorate planned Operation Rising Lion for many months, even while fighting a multi-front war, the military added, stating that it was a super complex operation against a challenging adversary in Iran. The operation started with attacks on top Iranian officials, both military chiefs and nuclear scientists.
Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, an IDF spokesperson, said around 200 Israeli jets participated in the operation, striking around 100 targets. The IDF said the strikes were based on “high-quality intelligence” and intended to damage Iran’s nuclear program.
Fox News reported that a senior Israeli official said that Israel successfully deceived top commanders of Iran’s air force into gathering just ahead of a targeted strike on an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps underground command center—an attack Defense Minister Israel Katz said eliminated most of the IRGC’s air force leadership.
“We carried out specific activities to help us learn more about them and then used that information to influence their behavior,” the official said. “We knew this would lead them to meet, but more importantly, we knew how to keep them there.”
According to the official, the strike was even more effective than expected, with Israeli forces also taking out air defense systems and ballistic missiles believed to be intended for use against Israel.
About the Author:
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
Iran War
