Key Points – The Israeli Air Force’s F-35I “Adir” stealth fighters have been a cornerstone of “Operation Rising Lion,” successfully penetrating Iranian airspace to strike nuclear and military targets.
-This customized variant of the F-35 features unique Israeli electronic warfare systems, avionics, and weapons integration, giving it a significant technological edge.
-Its performance against Iran’s air defenses, which include Russian-made S-300s, has been crucial to the campaign’s success, with no confirmed Israeli losses.
-This real-world combat validation serves as a powerful showcase for the F-35 platform, potentially bolstering its reputation among international partners at a time when its cost and reliability have been questioned.
The F-35I Adir Proves the F-35 Stealth Fighter Is the Real Deal
Israel’s recent aerial campaign against Iran, dubbed Operation Rising Lion, has brought the F-35I into the spotlight once again. The aircraft has been used extensively to carry out airstrikes against Iranian targets deep behind the country’s borders.
Thus far, the aircraft has dutifully carried out its missions without any confirmed casualties. Operation Rising Lion came at an opportune time for the U.S. when the F-35’s reputation had been waning amongst its allies. Israel’s campaign against Iran showcases the aircrafts capabilities and superiority against contemporary air defense systems and highlights its reliability.
The F-35 is Back
The F-35I is a uniquely Israeli variant of the American F-35A Lightning II. While it retains the core stealth and sensor fusion capabilities of the base model, it has been heavily modified to suit Israel’s specific operational needs.
These modifications include Israeli-developed electronic warfare systems, which enhance the aircraft’s ability to jam and evade enemy radar. The avionics architecture has been adapted to allow integration of Israeli weapons and software, giving the IAF greater flexibility in mission planning and execution.
Additionally, the F-35I features advanced command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence (C4I) systems developed by Israeli defense firms, enabling seamless coordination with other platforms and ground forces.
During Operation Rising Lion, the F-35I’s stealth capabilities were put to the test against Iran’s layered air defense network, which includes Russian-made S-300 systems and Iran’s domestically produced Bavar-373.
Despite Iranian claims of having damaged or downed several F-35s, Israel has denied any losses, and no independent evidence has emerged to support Iran’s assertions. In fact, most pictures showing downed F-35I Adir fighters look like bad fakes.
The aircraft’s low radar cross-section, combined with its electronic warfare suite, allowed it to penetrate heavily defended airspace and strike high-value targets with minimal risk. This was particularly evident in attacks on fortified nuclear sites, where traditional aircraft would have faced significant danger.
Why Israel’s Stealth Fighters Are a Lethal Fighting Force
The F-35 has primarily been used to conduct long range strikes against Iranian targets. Israel’s limited fleet of aerial tankers had raised questions about how it could sustain operations deep inside Iran. Analysts believe that Israel may have deployed extended-range modifications to its F-35I fleet. These could include conformal fuel tanks integrated into the aircraft’s fuselage, which would increase range without compromising stealth, and possibly external drop tanks that were jettisoned before entering contested airspace. While these modifications have not been officially confirmed, multiple defense sources have suggested that such enhancements were likely used to enable the deep-strike capability demonstrated during the campaign.
The F-35I’s advanced sensor fusion and helmet-mounted display system gave pilots an unprecedented level of situational awareness. This allowed them to track multiple targets simultaneously, share data in real time with other aircraft and command centers, and execute precision strikes with minimal collateral damage.
The IAF reportedly used a combination of Israeli-developed SPICE glide bombs and Python-5 air-to-air missiles to neutralize both fixed and mobile targets. These weapons, integrated seamlessly into the F-35I’s systems, enabled highly accurate strikes even in complex and dynamic environments.
Operation Rising Lion has once again cemented the IDAF’s domination in the region. The campaign demonstrated Israel’s ability to project power far beyond its borders, reinforcing its deterrence posture in the region. It also highlighted the technological superiority of the IAF, which continues to maintain a qualitative edge over regional adversaries. The operation validated Israel’s long-standing doctrine of conducting limited, high-tech strikes to degrade enemy capabilities without triggering full-scale war, a strategy often referred to as the “campaign between wars.”
Long Live the F-35
For the United States, Operation Rising Lion comes at a rather opportune time.
Due to geopolitical tensions between Europe and the U.S., the F-35’s reputation tanked for a time. Many NATO allies called the aircraft’s reliability into question, citing cost considerations, and fears of a kill-switch implemented by the U.S. that could render the aircraft useless in certain situations.
Many European nations have been seeking alternatives to the F-35, most notably the Swedish Saab JAS-39 Gripen, a fourth-generation fighter that has been gaining steadily more popularity among the international market.
With Operation Rising Lion, the F-35 has once again proven itself. While Iran’s air defense are not as sophisticated or well-integrated as Russia’s or China’s, it still possess moderately advanced systems. These systems have thus far been unable to deter or intercept any F-35s or if they have no evidence has appeared to prove such claims.
For the U.S., this is a good opportunity to show off the F-35’s prowess against modern AD systems and shake off any reservations its allies have about the aircraft.
However, the F-35’s high cost will always be a barrier that hold the F-35 back. Furthermore, the conflict between Iran and Israel is still in its early stages. While Iran has not managed to down an F-35 so far, there is a possibility that it can happen in the future, which would be a bad look for the aircraft.
Thus far the aircraft has performed admirably thus far, the aircrafts $90 million price tag will always cause potential customers to pause and evaluate whether the cost is worth it.
Based on its performance in Operation Rising Lion, however, the F-35 seems to be worth its price and more.
About the Author:
Isaac Seitz, a Defense Columnist, graduated from Patrick Henry College’s Strategic Intelligence and National Security program. He has also studied Russian at Middlebury Language Schools and has worked as an intelligence Analyst in the private sector.
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