Key Points and Summary – Israel is aggressively expanding its fleet of customized F-35I “Adir” stealth fighters, with plans to field a force of 75 jets.
-The move comes after the “Adir” proved its devastating effectiveness in the recent “Operation Rising Lion” strikes against Iran.
-Serving as an “airborne intelligence center,” the heavily modified Israeli variant successfully penetrated Iranian airspace, validating its role as the cornerstone of the IDF’s strategic strike capability.
-This combat-proven performance is driving Israel’s decision to double down on the fifth-generation platform, ensuring its qualitative military edge in the region for decades to come.
Why Israel Is Buying Up More American F-35s
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) confirmed over the weekend that three F-35I “Adir” aircraft have arrived at the Nevatim Air Force Base, one of Israel’s largest military airfields.
The customized American fighter jets arrived last week as part of a series of purchases intended to expand Israel’s fleet from 25 to 50.
According to The Jerusalem Post, three more aircraft are expected to be delivered over the next two months, with a further three on their way later this year. The last two planes of the most recent order will then be delivered in 2026. But, as the outlet also notes, more of the advanced stealth fighters are on their way.
After Israel became the first customer for American F-35s in 2010, the country signed an additional deal with the U.S. government and Lockheed Martin in 2023 to secure an additional 25 planes, with plans to expand the fleet to 75.
The rapidly expanding fleet will see Israeli armed forces form a new squadron. The first deliveries of F-35s for the new squadron are expected to begin in 2027.
What is the F-35I “Adir”?
The F-35I “Adir” is Israel’s custom version of the F-35A fifth-generation stealth fighter, developed by Lockheed Martin as a multirole aircraft with advanced strike and air-superiority capabilities. Israel became the first international F-35 customer in 2010.
The Adir’s core difference lies in its deep Israeli customization. With U.S. approval, Israel has embedded its own electronic-warfare systems, sensors, and C4I (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, and Intelligence) systems. It also supports Israeli-made precision weapons through its “Beast Mode” settings, enabling a substantial 22,000 lb payload capacity.
Writing for this outlet, military expert Kris Osborn described the F-35I as a “flying computer” known for its “stealth, sensing, and high-speed data processing,” adding that the plane has proven capable of “destroying groups of fourth-generation fighters from standoff ranges in U.S. Air Force wargames.”
Upgrades to the plane are designed to prolong the aircraft’s service life. Onboard computers can recognize and integrate new weapons and abilities via software upgrades, meaning the Adir’s capabilities will continue to expand in the years to come.
In May 2018, Israel became the first country to deploy the F-35 in combat, targeting Iranian-affiliated positions in Syria. Today, Israel operates over forty Adirs.
Why Israel Loves the F-35I
The F-35I has proven to be one of Israel’s most capable and flexible military jets. Earlier this month, an Israeli security source told The Jewish Chronicle that the jet was a critical part of the success of “Operation Rising Lion,” the name given to Israel’s recent aerial strikes against Iran.
“The Adir played a key role in the campaign, mainly thanks to its ability to create a battle picture in a league above everyone else, and it is, in fact, an airborne intelligence center,” the source said.
The plane is widely understood to have performed spectacularly well during the operation. Justin Bronk, an airpower expert from London’s Royal United Services Institute, told Business Insider in June that the Iran operation was the “most challenging kinetic campaign that F-35s have flown in.”
Bronk added that publicly available information also indicated that the F-35I was a “critical and highly successful leading edge capability in the overall Israeli air campaign at every stage.”
The Israeli Air Force also publicly praised the jet’s capabilities in a post on X, describing how it is the “only aircraft in the world that has carried out operational strikes with an external armament configuration, which increased the attack capabilities.”
The jet has also proven capable and effective in Gaza, with reports describing how its “Beast Mode” setting has been used extensively during aerial assaults in the region.
About the Author:
Jack Buckby is a British author, counter-extremism researcher, and journalist based in New York. Reporting on the U.K., Europe, and the U.S., he works to analyze and understand left-wing and right-wing radicalization, and reports on Western governments’ approaches to the pressing issues of today. His books and research papers explore these themes and propose pragmatic solutions to our increasingly polarized society. His latest book is The Truth Teller: RFK Jr. and the Case for a Post-Partisan Presidency.
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