As the Iran-Israel war rages on, the F-15I, F-16I, and F-35I will continue to carry out Israel’s operations.
Israel’s fighter jets continue to be major players in the nation’s ongoing war with Iran. In the fiercest tit-for-tat exchanges between the two nations, nuclear facilities, civilian centers, military sites, and oil-related assets have been struck. Achieving Israel’s ultimate goal to dismantle the regime’s ability to further develop its nuclear ambitions would not be possible without aircraft capable of penetrating deep within Iranian territory. At the forefront of Israel’s strikes against the Islamic Republic are the F-35I “Adir,” F-15I “Ra’am,” and F-16I “Sufa” platforms.
Introducing the F-35I Adir
Although the American-made F-35 Lightning II jet is widely considered to be the most advanced fifth-generation fighter in service with any nation today, the Israeli version of this platform may have it beat. The Israeli Air Force’s (IAF) specially modified variant of the Joint Strike Fighter allows Israel to better fulfill its unique security needs surrounded by hostile adversaries. The IAF’s version of the Joint Strike Fighter features homegrown electronic warfare products that enable the service to thwart Iran’s regional proxy groups more effectively. Like other F-35s, the Adir features a reduced radar cross-section, lending to its stealth. Armament-wise, the jet can carry the AIM9X Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles. The Adirs’ ability to fly at speeds in excess of Mach 1.6 at longer ranges thanks to refueling tankers makes the platform a critical asset for the IAF.
Introducing the F-15I Ra’am
Israel’s F-15 Eagle variant has remained a cornerstone of the IAF’s aerial capabilities for many years. The modified Israeli variant, designated as “Ra’am” or “Thunder,” hosts a litany of cutting-edge features, including top-tier avionics, electronic warfare systems, and communication systems. Perhaps where the fighter really shines is range. Able to fly for nearly 2,700 miles without requiring refueling, the Ra’am can outpace the newer F-35 and F-16 platforms. The IAF likely dispatched some of its F-15I jets in its cross-border strikes deep within Iran. As summed up by the chairman and former CEO of Boeing, “From a purely technological standpoint, the F-15I is a masterpiece.
Introducing the F-16I Sufa
Earlier this week, the IAF published an image of one of its F-16I “Sufa” fighters with accompanying text that reads “The IAF struck an Iranian aerial refueling aircraft at Mashhad Airport in eastern Iran, approximately 2,300 km from Israel: this marks the longest-range strike conducted since the operation has beginning. The IAF is operating to establish aerial superiority over Iranian airspace.” While the F-16I’s involvement in this specific strike has not been confirmed, the platform undoubtedly has participated in Israel’s strikes in Iran. The Israeli modified version of the F-16 Fighting Falcon notably features homegrown conformal fuel tanks which extend the platform’s range by early 50 percent. Additionally, the position of these larger tanks is located on both sides of the upper fuselage, making the Israeli F-16 variant capable of carrying more weapons than its American counterpart.
As the Iran-Israel war rages on, the F-15I, F-16I, and F-35I will continue to represent the cornerstone of Israel’s Operation Rising Lion.
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 by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: DVIDS.
