Latest news with #F-35I
Business Insider
4 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Israel's one-of-a-kind F-35 stealth jet is flying into a higher level of combat in fights with Iran
Israel's unique F-35I lends a critical capability to its air force and has been involved in strikes on Iran. Actions against Iran are the "most challenging" F-35s have flown, an airpower expert said. The F-35's success is showcasing the jet's capabilities and ability to fight higher-level battles. Israel's unique version of the F-35 stealth fighter is showing the jet's readiness for a higher level of combat in its fights with Iran, a difficult adversary that until recently fielded a challenging arsenal of air defense weapons. Over 200 Israeli fighter jets took part in the opening strikes last Friday, and Israeli Air Force photos from the operation confirm the involvement of the F-35I "Adir." Additional strikes have since followed. The latest attacks, which have targeted Iranian nuclear facilities, military leaders, and critical defensive capabilities, coupled with the attack last year on Iranian defenses mark the most difficult operations the jet has ever flown in, showcasing its strengths and adaptability across weapons and roles in a way previous engagements against non-state actors or nations with far weaker defenses did not. 200 מטוסי קרב, מעל 330 חימושים שונים: תיעודים מפעילות חיל-האוויר במבצע "עם כלביא" — Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) June 13, 2025 Israel's F-35s, along with fourth-generation aircraft like the F-16 and F-15, have been targeting Iran for days, and Israel's military said Monday that the bombing runs had given them air superiority over sections of Iran, including Tehran, its capital. "עם כלביא": תיעודים מרגעי ההמראות והנחיתות של מטוסי הקרב של חיל-האוויר, במבצע לפגיעה בתוכנית הגרעין האיראנית — Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) June 13, 2025 The intense, ongoing Israeli combat operation is aimed at destroying Iran's nuclear program and also severely degrading military capabilities, including its ballistic missile programs and air defenses. Justin Bronk, an airpower expert at the London-based Royal United Services Institute, told Business Insider that the strength of Iranian defenses at the time made the combat operations that Israel conducted last October and the most recent strikes on Iran "the most challenging kinetic campaign that F-35s have flown in." The Israeli military has not discussed specific F-35 actions against Iran, but the jet's capabilities and the nature of the targets suggest the aircraft could be playing a central role. Bronk said that based on the publicly available information from Israeli Air Force officials, every indication is that "the F-35I has been a critical and highly successful leading edge capability in the overall Israeli air campaign at every stage." The jet's involvement isn't necessarily surprising as penetrating contested airspace and suppressing enemy defenses is what the F-35 is designed to do and what Israel bought it for, he said. That said, this moment is an opportunity to showcase the jet's prowess. The jet, Bronk said, "offers a combination of stealth, capability to rapidly detect, identify, and geolocate radar-emitting threats like air defense systems, pass those targets to other aircraft or strike them itself, and conduct electronic warfare attacks to suppress said targets to protect other aircraft and get weapons through to targets." The F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is a single-engine, multi-role stealth aircraft made by US defense contractor Lockheed Martin and employed by countries around the world. The US military operates three variants of the jet, the A for conventional take-off, the B for short take-off and vertical landing, and the C for carrier operations. Most allied and partner nations operate one of the three variants, but Israel flies a unique F-35 variant. Israel's F-35I is its only fifth-generation aircraft. It was the first military to use the F-35 in combat in 2018. It currently operates just under 40 of them but is acquiring more. Israel's specific model is a subvariant of the F-35A the US Air Force flies. What makes the F-35I "Adir" unique is that Israel can modify the mission data and programming of the jets and integrate domestically developed systems, from electronic warfare to data links and cybersecurity, without relying on US-directed software update cycles. Those unique features, which allow the jet to be more tailored to Israeli needs, exclude it from US-provided updates for other F-35 customers. Israeli attacks on Iran have put the jet and the larger Israeli Air Force to the test. In the latest strikes, Israeli fighter jets struck over 100 targets across Iran, including key military sites and the main Iranian uranium enrichment site. The mission is aimed at preventing it from developing a nuclear weapon. The Israeli Defense Force has said that the Iranian nuclear program has "accelerated significantly" in recent months and called it "clear evidence the Iranian regime is operating to obtain a nuclear weapon." Iran has said its nuclear program is for civilian purposes, but enrichment levels and secretive nuclear activity have raised concerns about its intentions. President Donald Trump has repeatedly said that Iran cannot be allowed to develop a nuclear weapon. American officials have said the US isn't involved in the strikes and warned Iran against retaliating against US forces in the region. The US Navy has warships, including an aircraft carrier and several surface ships, stationed in and around the Middle East, and some of these assets have provided air defense for Israel, helping shield it from retaliatory Iranian missile strikes. The US has been adjusting its force posture in the area recently, but it remains unclear if the US will become more involved or keep its distance from the ongoing fight.
India.com
4 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
5 lethal weapons that helped Israel carry out attacks and hit important targets in Iranian cities like Tehran Isfahan, Shiraz, and..., weapons are...
F-35I Adir (File) Tensions between Israel and Iran grew much worse after June 13, 2025, when Israel started a major military attack called 'Operation Rising Lion.' This attack showed just how strong and advanced Israel's military really is. Israel hit Iran's nuclear plants, army bases, and even top leaders. More than 400 people died in these attacks. Iran tried to fight back with missiles and drones, but its response was weak. Now, let's look at five such weapons that helped Israel carry out these attacks and hit important targets in cities like Tehran. 1. F-35I 'Adir' Stealth Fighter Jet One of Israel's strongest weapons is the F-35I Adir jet. It is a stealth jet, which means it can fly without being seen on enemy radar. Some key features: It can fly 2,200 kilometers without needing to refuel. It can go up to Mach 1.6 speed (that's 1.6 times the speed of sound). It can carry up to 8,160 kg of bombs and missiles. It uses smart Israeli bombs called Spice precision-guided bombs. During the operation, more than 200 F-35I jets attacked over 100 important targets in Iran, including the Natanz and Fordow nuclear plants. Because of its stealth, Iran's air defense systems could not detect them. The jets were able to destroy underground buildings, military command rooms, and other key sites in Iran. Thanks to the F-35I's advanced technology, Israel gained full air control over Tehran, attacking major targets without much risk to its own forces. Israel also used some very smart and powerful weapons in its attack on Iran. Two of these were the GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) and the Jericho-3 ballistic missile. 2. GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) This is a very smart bomb that weighs around 250 pounds. Even though it is small in size, it is very powerful and can hit targets up to 110 kilometers away. It uses GPS and internal navigation to reach its target with great accuracy. One amazing thing about this bomb is that it can break through up to 3 feet of reinforced concrete. Because it is small, fighter jets like the F-16 and F-35 can carry many of these bombs at once. During the attacks in June 2025, these bombs were used to hit: Missile launchers Nuclear research centers Command centers 3. Jericho-3 Ballistic Missile The Jericho-3 is a long-range missile made by Israel. It can travel between 4,800 to 6,500 kilometers, and carry a payload of up to 1,300 kilograms. This missile can be loaded with normal or even nuclear warheads (Israel is believed to have around 90 nuclear weapons). It uses a guidance system to find its way to the target and may also have GPS help. Although it's not clear if this missile was used in the June 2025 attack, its long range makes it possible to hit Tehran, Isfahan, Shiraz, and other major Iranian cities. 4. Spike Anti-Tank Missiles These are special missiles made to hit targets even when they are not directly in front (called Non-Line-of-Sight or NLOS). They can strike from as far as 30 kilometers away and use infrared and electro-optical technology to find and lock on to their targets. Spike missiles can be launched from vehicles, helicopters, or even drones, and they are powerful enough to destroy armored targets like tanks or bunkers. In the June 2025 strikes, these missiles were used to kill top Iranian military leaders, including: IRGC Commander Hossein Salami, Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri, 9 nuclear scientists 5. Heron TP Drones (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) The Heron TP is a large and powerful Israeli drone. It has a wingspan of 26 meters, ability to fly at 45,000 feet and more than 30 hours of flight time. This drone can carry up to 1,000 kg of equipment like cameras, sensors, and even missiles (like the Israeli-made 'Ankor' missiles). In the attack on Iran, Heron TP drones were used to: Watch Iran's skies closely and send back real-time data Help F-35I fighter jets by giving them important information during the strikes Destroy mobile missile launchers Keep pressure on Iran by flying near important cities like Tehran Israel even set up a drone base near Tehran, which gave them an edge in the battle. Why Iran's Defense Failed 1. Old and Outdated Defense Systems Iran still depends on older missile defense systems like: The Russian S-300 Iran's homemade Bavar-373 Old Soviet-era equipment These systems couldn't detect or stop Israel's stealth aircraft (like the F-35I) or small smart bombs like the GBU-39/B. Israel even destroyed four S-300 systems, including one near Natanz (a key nuclear site). 2. Weak Short-Range Missiles Iran's short-range air defense missiles were not enough to stop high-speed or long-range Israeli attacks. Because of this, Israel was able to control the airspace over Tehran, allowing them to attack key locations like the Ministry of Defense and nuclear sites without much resistance.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Israel's air superiority lets it strike Iran on the cheap — and force Tehran into costly retaliation
Israeli fighter jets have battered Iran's air defenses, allowing them to operate more freely. The degraded surface-to-air missile threat means Israeli aircraft can use cheaper weapons to strike. Iran, meanwhile, is left retaliating with its more expensive ballistic missiles. The Israeli military says it has achieved air superiority over swaths of Iran, including the capital Tehran, after battering the country's air defenses in recent bombing runs. The Monday declaration that Israel has an overwhelming advantage in the air comes just a few days into an intensive operation aimed at degrading Iran's nuclear program and wiping out its military capabilities, including a substantial number of surface-to-air missile launchers. Israel is operating its F-35I stealth fighter jets above Iran and also its fourth-generation aircraft, like the F-16 and F-15, that lack some of the same low observable capabilities but can drop cheap glide bombs on Iranian targets. On Sunday, Israeli fighter jets struck the Mashhad airport in eastern Iran, some 1,400 miles away, marking Israel's longest-range attack since beginning its bombing campaign and further underscoring its ability to fly largely uncontested above Iran. The effective Israeli strikes on Iranian air defenses and military airports "will degrade Iran's ability to restrict Israeli operations in its airspace," the Institute for the Study of War, a conflict studies think tank in Washington, DC, said on Sunday. Weapons analysts have identified Israeli fighter jets armed with Joint Direct Attack Munitions. JDAMs, which are made by the US defense contractor Boeing, are dumb bombs fitted with relatively cheap guidance kits that turn them into precision-guided munitions. These weapons are not considered stand-off weapons. Analysts have also spotted Israeli aircraft armed with SPICE bombs. Like JDAMs, guidance kits that turn dumb bombs into precision weapons. They are made by the local defense firm Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Open-source intelligence accounts have noted the use of JDAMs and SPICE — which stands for Smart, Precise Impact, Cost-Effective — bombs in the airstrikes across Iran, including around Tehran. Israel's ability to fire these munitions suggests it is less concerned about defenses and does not necessarily have to employ its more expensive missiles for high-value targets. It has more options. Iran, which lacks a strong air force, has retaliated against Israel by firing more than 370 ballistic missiles in multiple waves since Friday. There have been at least 30 impact sites so far, killing two dozen people and wounding over 590 others, according to Israeli government statistics. Ballistic missiles, which can cost millions of dollars apiece, are much more expensive than the individual JDAMs and SPICE bombs Israel is using to strike Iran. A single JDAM, for instance, may cost only tens of thousands of dollars. By firing multiple salvos of missiles, Iran is depleting its stockpiles; it is estimated to have hundreds, possibly thousands, that can reach Israel. Israel said on Monday that it had destroyed a third of Tehran's launchers during the fight, limiting its ability to get missiles off the ground. Iran has also launched hundreds of drones at Israel. While these are much cheaper than the missiles — Tehran's notorious Shahed-136 drone is estimated to cost as little as $20,000 — these weapons also travel significantly slower and are much easier to intercept. However, Iran's missile and drone fire forces Israel to expend valuable air defenses, adding to a growing financial toll. At the lower end, a single Iron Dome interceptor costs some $50,000. A missile launched from the Arrow-3 system, which can intercept incoming targets in space, costs several million dollars. US officials said American forces in the region have helped to shoot down Iranian missiles aimed at Israel, but they have said that Washington is not involved in offensive operations. Israeli officials announced the start of "Operation Rising Lion," aimed at degrading Iran's nuclear program, last Friday. Israeli fighter jets have carried out widespread airstrikes across Iran, targeting its nuclear facilities and top scientists, in addition to other military targets, such as Tehran's missile launchers, weapons production sites, air defenses, and senior commanders. The operation could derail President Donald Trump's efforts to reach a new nuclear deal with Iran. Tehran argues that its nuclear program is for civilian use only. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long pushed for a military approach to deal with what he describes as an existential threat. Read the original article on Business Insider
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Politics
- Business Insider
Israel's air superiority lets it strike Iran on the cheap — and force Tehran into costly retaliation
Israeli fighter jets have battered Iran's air defenses, allowing them to operate more freely. The degraded surface-to-air missile threat means Israeli aircraft can use cheaper weapons to strike. Iran, meanwhile, is left retaliating with its more expensive ballistic missiles. The Israeli military says it has achieved air superiority over swaths of Iran, including the capital Tehran, after battering the country's air defenses in recent bombing runs. The Monday declaration that Israel has an overwhelming advantage in the air comes just a few days into an intensive operation aimed at degrading Iran's nuclear program and wiping out its military capabilities, including a substantial number of surface-to-air missile launchers. Israel is operating its F-35I stealth fighter jets above Iran and also its fourth-generation aircraft, like the F-16 and F-15, that lack some of the same low observable capabilities but can drop cheap glide bombs on Iranian targets. On Sunday, Israeli fighter jets struck the Mashhad airport in eastern Iran, some 1,400 miles away, marking Israel's longest-range attack since beginning its bombing campaign and further underscoring its ability to fly largely uncontested above Iran. The effective Israeli strikes on Iranian air defenses and military airports "will degrade Iran's ability to restrict Israeli operations in its airspace," the Institute for the Study of War, a conflict studies think tank in Washington, DC, said on Sunday. Weapons analysts have identified Israeli fighter jets armed with Joint Direct Attack Munitions. JDAMs, which are made by the US defense contractor Boeing, are dumb bombs fitted with relatively cheap guidance kits that turn them into precision-guided munitions. These weapons are not considered stand-off weapons. Analysts have also spotted Israeli aircraft armed with SPICE bombs. Like JDAMs, guidance kits that turn dumb bombs into precision weapons. They are made by the local defense firm Rafael Advanced Defense Systems. Open-source intelligence accounts have noted the use of JDAMs and SPICE — which stands for Smart, Precise Impact, Cost-Effective — bombs in the airstrikes across Iran, including around Tehran. Israel's ability to fire these munitions suggests it is less concerned about defenses and does not necessarily have to employ its more expensive missiles for high-value targets. It has more options. Iran, which lacks a strong air force, has retaliated against Israel by firing more than 370 ballistic missiles in multiple waves since Friday. There have been at least 30 impact sites so far, killing two dozen people and wounding over 590 others, according to Israeli government statistics. Ballistic missiles, which can cost millions of dollars apiece, are much more expensive than the individual JDAMs and SPICE bombs Israel is using to strike Iran. A single JDAM, for instance, may cost only tens of thousands of dollars. By firing multiple salvos of missiles, Iran is depleting its stockpiles; it is estimated to have hundreds, possibly thousands, that can reach Israel. Israel said on Monday that it had destroyed a third of Tehran's launchers during the fight, limiting its ability to get missiles off the ground. Iran has also launched hundreds of drones at Israel. While these are much cheaper than the missiles — Tehran's notorious Shahed-136 drone is estimated to cost as little as $20,000 — these weapons also travel significantly slower and are much easier to intercept. However, Iran's missile and drone fire forces Israel to expend valuable air defenses, adding to a growing financial toll. At the lower end, a single Iron Dome interceptor costs some $50,000. A missile launched from the Arrow-3 system, which can intercept incoming targets in space, costs several million dollars. US officials said American forces in the region have helped to shoot down Iranian missiles aimed at Israel, but they have said that Washington is not involved in offensive operations. Israeli officials announced the start of "Operation Rising Lion," aimed at degrading Iran's nuclear program, last Friday. Israeli fighter jets have carried out widespread airstrikes across Iran, targeting its nuclear facilities and top scientists, in addition to other military targets, such as Tehran's missile launchers, weapons production sites, air defenses, and senior commanders. The operation could derail President Donald Trump's efforts to reach a new nuclear deal with Iran. Tehran argues that its nuclear program is for civilian use only. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has long pushed for a military approach to deal with what he describes as an existential threat.
Time of India
13-06-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Israel hits Iran's nuclear facilities with F-35I Adir jets costing $44K per hour to fly in daring mission
Israel has carried out a bold and very secret air strike on Iran's nuclear facilities. The main focus of this operation was its top-of-the-line F-35I Adir stealth fighter jets. The move is one of the biggest steps up in tensions between the two regional powers in recent years. The mission stresses Israel's military superiority and growing worry about Iran's nuclear ambitions, which are moving faster than expected. This has caused concern around the world and a quick response from Tehran. Israel's F-35I stealth fighter jet fleet was on the front lines of Thursday's preemptive strike against Iran's nuclear program. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like You Might Want To Buy Baking Soda In Bulk After Reading This Read More What makes Israel's F-35I Adir jets so powerful? The Israeli version of the Lockheed Martin Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter aircraft, called "Adir," which translates to "Mighty One" in Hebrew, is built by the United States. One of the most potent weapons in Israel's air defense arsenal is the F-35I, which has a customized electronic warfare system and advanced stealth capabilities, as per a report by Business Insider. Live Events ALSO READ: Aaron Rodgers secretly ties the knot — everything we know about Brittani, the ring, and that secret ceremony According to the Israel Defense Forces , Israel's aircraft attacked Iran and intercepted hundreds of Iranian drones, missiles, and rockets in 2024 and destroyed a missile fired by an Iranian-backed group in Yemen in 2023. Lockheed Martin's F-35 Lightning II stealth fighter jets are among the most cutting-edge military aircraft in existence. Besides its aligned edges and radar-absorbent coating, the F-35's internal storage of weapons and fuel aids in its ability to avoid detection. In January, The National Interest reported that the planes cost $44,000 per hour to fly. They have sophisticated information-processing and stealth capabilities and can travel up to Mach 1.6, or 548.8 meters per second, supersonic, as per a report by Business Insider. In 2016, Israel purchased 50 F-35 fighter jets through the US Foreign Military Sales process, making it the first nation outside of the US to do so. By producing its own wings and electronic warfare system for the F-35I, Israel has significantly altered the aircraft. Additionally, it created its own version of the advanced helmet that shows the pilot's visor the plane's airspeed, altitude, targeting data, and other important statistics. The Israeli Air Force called its version of the F-35I "Adir," which translates to "Mighty One" in Hebrew. Why did Israel target Iran's nuclear sites now? In a preemptive strike against Iran's nuclear program, the Israeli Air Force launched more than 200 fighter jets, including F-35I aircraft, on Thursday. Israeli fighter jets hit more than 100 locations throughout Iran on Thursday to stop it from creating a nuclear weapon, including military targets and its biggest uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, according to an IDF spokesperson. How did Iran respond to the Israeli airstrikes? Iran has "accelerated significantly" its nuclear program in recent months, according to the IDF, which described this as "clear evidence that the Iranian regime is operating to obtain a nuclear weapon." According to the IDF, Iran launched a counterattack on Friday morning with more than 100 drones, most of which were intercepted by Israeli forces, reported Business Insider. FAQs Which jets did Israel use to strike Iran? Israel used F-35I Adir stealth fighter jets in the operation. Why did Israel launch the attack? According to the IDF, the goal is to prevent Iran from moving forward with its nuclear weapons program.
