What you need to know: The Israeli Air Force (IAF) recently conducted “Operation Day of Repentance” over Iran, targeting military assets near Tehran and Karaj. In a display of air dominance, Israel deployed its F-16, F-15 and specialized F-35I “Adir” stealth fighters, with the Adir playing a crucial role due to its unique electronic warfare capabilities tailored to the needs of ‘Israel.

-Designed by Lockheed Martin specifically for Israel, the F-35I features domestically developed countermeasures to address threats from regional proxies.

-The operation marked a new milestone for the F-35I Adir, further establishing it as a key player in Israel’s defensive and offensive strategies.

Israeli F-35I Adir leads ‘Day of Repentance’ strikes in Iran

Last week, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) launched a bold operation against Iran amid escalating tensions in the region. Following the offensive mission targeting Tehran and Karaj, a strategically important region, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) released images of some of its fighter jets returning home. A number of the Jewish State’s leading platforms participated in the strike, including F-16s, F-15s and F-35s. While these three American-designed fighters offer unique capabilities to the Israeli Air Force, the specialized F-35I “Adir” This variant is particularly threatening.

IDF spokesmen confirmed that the Air Force had strictly targeted military assets in Iran, deliberately avoiding nuclear and oil sites in order to stifle a wider escalation of the conflict. The F-35I platform played a leading role in the operation »Day of Repentance”, which was expected given the extent of the platform’s capabilities.

Following the operation, IDF spokesperson R.-Adm. Daniel Hagari declared that “the IDF is fully prepared for offensive and defensive maneuvers, closely monitoring Iran and its proxies.”

He also urged “continued vigilance and compliance with instructions from the Home Front Command, with immediate updates on any changes.”

Presentation of the F-35I Adir

The Israeli variant of the F-35, truly one of a kind, single-handedly ensures air superiority over the region of the country. When the “Mighty” platform was first purchased by Israel in 2010, it became the first country outside of the nine-nation Joint Strike Fighter co-development group to acquire the fighter. Lockheed Martin has agreed to develop a specially modified F-35 for Israel to meet its unique security needs.

The Adir is uniquely equipped with a domestically produced electronic warfare system. Israeli companies developed countermeasures and sensors integrated into the platform, in addition to helmet-mounted displays and other data collection and processing capabilities. Since the Jewish state is frequently threat by region proxy groups such as Hamas based in Gaza, Houthis based in Yemen and Hezbollah militants based in Lebanon, appropriate measures electronic warfare system (EWS) presented on Adir is essential to secure its borders.

F-35I Adir Service History

Israel’s success with the F-35 platform in combating these Iranian-backed groups has already been proven. Last year, the IDF said it used its Adir fleet to shoot down a cruise missile in the first missile interception recorded on the platform. The F-35Is are team with the AIM9X Sidewinder and AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles, making them exceptionally lethal. The Adir platform also achieved the first recorded Joint Strike Fighter victory of 2021, when it shot down two Iranian-launched unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).

In April, Iran spear its first direct missile and drone bombardment towards Israel following an escalation of tensions. The Adir played a key role in thwarting the attack. According to reports, this platform played a vital role in carrying out defensive and offensive missions by striking Hezbollah military outposts and launching numerous projectiles towards the country.

Following the IDF’s latest Day of Repentance operation, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei minimized mission and promised that Israel would be mistaken if it thought Tehran would not retaliate. One thing is certain, the IAF will undoubtedly deploy its Adir fighters in any future operation targeting Iran.

About the Author: Maya Carlin, Defense Expert

Maya Carlinnational security editor at The National Interest, is an analyst at the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has contributed articles to numerous publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin.

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