While the exact nature of how the strike played out is unknown, Israeli fighter jets certainly played a part.
Earlier this week, Israel launched a targeted airstrike against the Hamas leadership in Qatar. The Gaza-based terrorist group has long had its political base in Doha. In an interview with Fox News shortly following the attack, Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, cautioned that Israel would continue to strike down Hamas targets. In fact, Leiter specifically warned that, “If we didn’t get them this time, we’ll get them next time.” The unprecedented attack culminated in the death of five senior Hamas officials. While the exact nature of how the strike played out is unknown, Israeli fighter jets certainly played a part.
The F-35I
Leading Israel’s aerial fleet is the F-35I “Adir.” As a specially modified iteration of the American-made Joint Strike Fighter, the Adir hosts all the same top-tier capabilities as the fifth-generation platform. The Lightning II is widely considered to be the most lethal and stealthy fighter jet in service across the globe today. From its avionics and versatility to its stealth and armament power, the Lightning II is arguably unparalleled in the skies. Israel’s unique version of the jet series may actually be even more sophisticated. Designated as the “Mighty One” in Israel, the jet was first procured back in 2010. When Israel received its initial batch of jets later on, it would become the first nation to procure a specially modified version made to fulfill Israel’s unique defense needs.
The F-35I Adir’s electronic warfare system is entirely of local origin. Israeli companies designed the countermeasures and sensors, which are incorporated into the Adir fighters, as well as homegrown helmet-mounted displays and other data-gathering and processing capabilities. Israel’s F-35Is reportedly achieved the Lightning II’s first record kill back in 2021, when it destroyed two Iranian-launched drones near Israeli airspace. As detailed by the Israel Defense Forces, “The [March 2021] UAVs were identified as the Iranian ‘Shahad 197’ on the way to transfer munitions to the Hamas terrorist organization. According to the UAVs’ flight paths, we estimate that the intended destinations for the munition transfer were Hamas terrorist operatives situated in Judea and Samaria [the West Bank] and the Hamas-controlled Gaza Strip.”
The F-15I
In addition to its F-35I Adir contingent, the Israeli Air Force also heavily relies on its fleet of F-15I “Ra’am” jets. These fighters may be older, but they provide the long-range that Israel required. Israel first procured the Ra’am jets back in 1994. While the specially modified jets are similar to their F-15E Strike Eagle originator, the Israeli jets function as dual-role fighters that combine air superiority and long-range interdiction. In terms of sensors and avionics, the Ra’am jets are equipped with the Hughes APG-70 aperture radar, the Kaiser holographic head-up display system, and the Elbit display. The F-15I is powered by two Pratt & Whitney F100-PW series afterburning turbofan engines, which enable the fighter to fly at speeds in excess of Mach 2.0 (times the speed of sound). Perhaps most significant, however, is the Ra’am’s range. The platform can reportedly fly for 2,700 miles without requiring aerial refueling. Notably, this distance makes the F-15I more capable than its F-35I or F-16I counterparts in terms of long-range missions.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has bylines in many publications, including The National Interest, The Jerusalem Post, and The Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.
Image: DVIDS.
