Since October 7, the Jewish state has heavily relied on its F-35I and F-15I fleets to carry out both defensive and offensive operations.
Israel’s efforts to thwart Iran’s regional proxy presence are ongoing. This week, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said it targeted Houthi assets across Yemen in overnight airstrikes. According to The Times of Israel, more than 50 munitions were dropped in the air campaign. The IDF published footage of the Israeli Air Force preparing for the airstrikes, noting that targets in the ports of Salif, Hodeidah, and Ras Isa were struck. These retaliatory strikes were planned after at least three Houthi ballistic missiles were launched toward the Jewish state.
“Houthi forces installed a radar system on the ship and have been using it to track vessels in the international maritime arena to facilitate further terrorist activities,” the IDF said in a statement following the strikes.
While the Iran-Israel ceasefire continues to hold, an uptick in Houthi barrages could escalate exchanges of violence. When it comes to Israel’s defensive strategy, the IAF’s fleets of F-35Is and F-15Is are paramount.
F-35I Adir: Israel’s Heavily Modified F-35 Variant
The Lockheed Martin-designed F-35 Lightning II is perhaps the most recognizable fifth-generation fighter in service today. While the US contingent of Joint Strike Fighters are top-tier, Israel’s specially modified F-35I “Adir” jets are uniquely tailored to meet the Jewish state’s specific security needs. Israel is one of the few nations that was given the green light to modify the American-made platform. The Israeli variant is equipped with homegrown features, including its electronic warfare system. Local Israeli companies developed the countermeasures and sensors that are incorporated into the platform, as well as helmet-mounted displays and other data-gathering and processing capabilities.
In 2018, Adir jets became the first of their platform to engage in combat missions. In 2021, Israel’s F-35 fleet achieved its first aerial engagement. Considering its service record and unmatched capabilities, the IAF will certainly rely on its Adir contingent amidst the geopolitical instability in the region.
Israel’s F-15I Ra’am Is Suitable for Deep Strikes
Israel’s specialized F-15E Strike Eagle variant was similarly adapted to ensure the nation’s unique defense needs are met. The two-seat fighter known in Israel as the Ra’am, or “Thunder,” features a range of cutting-edge avionics, communications, and electronic warfare capabilities. While the platform is technically fourth generation, it hosts a greater range than the IAF’s contingent of F-35I Adir fifth-gen jets. The Israeli government initially recognized the need for a long-range strike platform following the 1991 Gulf War. Since the Jewish state is positioned next to hostile adversaries who wish to see its demise, maintaining the ability to identify and destroy targets threatening its borders is a top priority. In addition to its longer range, the Ra’am jets feature the Elbit display and sight helmet system, as well as the APG-70 synthetic aperture radar, which provides a sharp picture that allows the aircraft’s pilots to more easily detect targets regardless of weather conditions.
Since Hamas launched its October 7, 2023, invasion into Israel, the Jewish state has heavily relied on its F-35I and F-15I fleets to carry out both defensive and offensive operations. As tit-for-tat violence between the Jewish state and Iran’s regional proxy group rages on, the IAF’s top-tier fighter fleet will continue to play a prominent role.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, a Senior Editor for 19FortyFive, 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: Wikimedia Commons.
