Focus: US-made F-35 Stealth Fighter Demonstrates Unmatched Combat Capabilities in Israeli Strike Against Iran.

Citing a report from the Simple Flying website, British Admiral Tony Radakin spoke at a Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) lecture in London about how Israel showcased the impressive performance and capabilities of the American-made stealth F-35 fighter jet during the recent airstrikes on Iran. This operation, which targeted over 20 key Iranian military sites, underscored the extraordinary combat capabilities of Israel's fleet of F-35I aircraft, confirming the jet’s role as an unparalleled asset in modern air combat.
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Israeli Air Force F-35 stealth fighter jet demonstrates advanced capabilities in the recent strike on Iranian targets. (Picture source: U.S. DoD)

The raid, which took down missile-manufacturing facilities and critical air-defense systems, highlighted the F-35’s stealth, precision, and long-range strike abilities—key factors that allowed Israel to execute a high-stakes operation with minimal exposure to risk.

Israel has now received around 40 of the 75 F-35I aircraft it ordered, and these advanced jets have proven pivotal in enhancing Israel's air superiority. The F-35I, an Israeli-specific variant of the F-35 Lightning II, has been customized with Israeli avionics, software, and systems, enabling the Israeli Air Force to carry out missions with exceptional precision and efficiency. With its combination of stealth technology, cutting-edge sensors, and advanced munitions, the F-35 has set a new standard for military airstrikes, as demonstrated in the operation that Radakin described.

Israel’s F-35Is were central to the success of this high-stakes operation, showcasing the fighter’s advanced stealth features, which allowed Israeli jets to penetrate Iranian airspace without being detected by the country’s sophisticated air-defense systems. The F-35's low-observable design—featuring radar-absorbing coatings, advanced shaping, and internal weapons bays—made it virtually invisible to radar, even to Iran's advanced air-defense missile systems, such as the Russian-made S-300s. This allowed Israel to strike key targets deep inside Iranian territory without exposing their aircraft to the kind of risks that conventional fighter jets would face in a similarly contested environment.

The F-35’s radar and sensor systems, particularly the AN/APG-81 AESA radar, also played a critical role in the operation. These sensors allowed Israeli pilots to detect and track targets from long distances, far beyond the range of many conventional radar systems. Combined with the Distributed Aperture System (DAS), which offers a 360-degree view of the battlefield, Israeli pilots could identify targets with remarkable accuracy and engage them from a safe distance.

The precision of the airstrike was made possible by the F-35’s ability to carry out precision-guided strikes on a variety of targets. With its advanced weapon systems, such as the Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) and StormBreaker bombs, the F-35 can accurately strike even highly protected or deeply buried targets. These munitions are guided by GPS, infrared, and laser systems, ensuring they hit their targets with near-perfect accuracy. In this raid, Israel used fewer than 100 munitions to take out more than 20 military sites, emphasizing the high efficiency of the operation. This operational precision stood in stark contrast to other air campaigns, such as Russia’s strikes in Ukraine, where inefficiency and missed targets have been commonplace.

The F-35’s stealth and precision capabilities were crucial in executing a mission where each strike needed to count. No aircraft got within 100 miles of the target in the first wave, yet nearly the entirety of Iran's air-defense system was dismantled. This highlights the F-35’s stand-off strike capability, where weapons can be deployed from a safe distance without compromising the safety of the aircraft or pilots.

Beyond its combat and strike capabilities, the F-35’s advanced electronic warfare (EW) systems were pivotal in degrading Iran’s air-defense networks. These EW systems allow the F-35 to disrupt enemy radar, communication, and targeting systems, effectively blinding or misleading adversary defenses. As Admiral Radakin noted, the strike took down "nearly the entirety of Iran’s air-defense system," likely facilitated by the F-35’s ability to disrupt and neutralize these defenses before they could respond effectively.

Iran’s acquisition of S-300 systems from Russia posed a significant threat to any aircraft attempting to strike Iranian targets. However, Israel’s F-35s used their superior electronic warfare capabilities to target and degrade these systems, making it possible to carry out the mission with minimal risk to the aircraft.

The success of this operation also speaks to the multi-role versatility of the F-35. While primarily an air-to-air and air-to-ground combat aircraft, the F-35 also serves as a platform for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR). During the strike on Iran, Israeli F-35s likely performed a variety of roles, from gathering intelligence to ensuring that each target was hit with precision and efficiency. The aircraft's ability to switch between strike, surveillance, and electronic warfare roles is a key reason for its operational effectiveness in high-stakes missions like this.

The F-35’s ability to carry out surgical strikes on critical infrastructure while maintaining air superiority and disrupting enemy defenses makes it the ideal platform for modern military operations, especially in hostile environments where the enemy possesses advanced air-defense capabilities.

The recent Israeli operation against Iranian targets has once again demonstrated the unparalleled combat capabilities of the F-35. With its combination of stealth, precision strike systems, advanced munitions, and superior electronic warfare capabilities, the F-35 has redefined the standards for modern air combat. Israel’s use of this advanced fighter jet highlights its significant technological edge and ability to project power with minimal risk and maximum precision. As Israel continues to expand its fleet of F-35Is, the aircraft will undoubtedly play a central role in future operations, setting a new benchmark in modern military aviation. The F-35’s performance in this operation serves as a clear demonstration of how advanced technologies—stealth, precision, and electronic warfare—are transforming military air operations and ensuring that air forces can meet the complex challenges of the modern battlefield with unprecedented effectiveness.