Israel deploys three new F-35I Adir fighter jets in combat as fleet reaches 48 units.

On January 18, 2026, the Israeli Air Force received three additional F-35I Adir fighter jets at Nevatim Air Base, bringing the total number in service to 48 aircraft.

On January 18, 2026, the Israeli Air Force announced that three new F-35I Adir fighter jets arrived at Nevatim Air Base, increasing the IAF's F-35I fleet to 48 aircraft. The aircraft were assigned to the 116th Squadron “Lions of the South” and the 140th Squadron “Golden Eagle,” both operating from Nevatim, and immediately entered service, as the F-35I fleet has remained continuously operational since October 7, 2023. Israeli officials reiterated the role of U.S.-Israeli defense cooperation in sustaining fleet readiness.
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Israel’s F-35I “Adir” (Hebrew for “Mighty One”) is a unique variant of the F-35A Lightning II, with modifications spanning across command and control, electronic warfare (EW), communications, and weapons integration. (Picture source: IAF)

The F-35I Adir, the only national variant of the F-35A to date, originated from Israel’s decision in the late 2000s to acquire a fifth-generation fighter jet while keeping the ability to adapt it to national needs. In October 2010, Israel signed a $2.75 billion agreement to purchase its first batch of F-35I Adirs through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales framework, selecting the conventional F-35A as the base model. From the start, Israel planned for a fleet of up to 75 F-35I Adir (a Hebrew word meaning mighty, powerful, or strong), organized into three squadrons, to gradually replace older F-16s and some F-15s. The program was structured to allow deliveries, training, and operational use to progress simultaneously. Israel also sought an early agreement to integrate national systems within defined technical boundaries.

The first two F-35Is arrived in Israel on December 12, 2016, followed by the first local flight on December 13, 2016. In December 2017, the Adir was declared operational after completion of pilot training, ground crew certification, infrastructure adaptation at Nevatim Air Base, and command-and-control integration. Israel publicly acknowledged operational employment of the fighter jet in May 2018, while additional deliveries continued. A key development milestone occurred in November 2020 with the delivery of a dedicated F-35I testbed aircraft to support in-country validation of Israeli systems and weapons, enabling parallel fleet growth and national development activities. By January 18, 2026, cumulative deliveries had increased the in-service fleet to 48 aircraft, while Israel’s stated end goal remains a three-squadron fleet totaling 75 F-35I Adir jets.

A unique feature of the F-35I is the integration of Israel-specific systems, something that no other F-35 operator has achieved to date. More concretely, the F-35I was developed with a separate Israeli-controlled software integration path that allows Israel to load, update, and manage its own mission data files, threat libraries, electronic warfare logic, communications protocols, and weapon interfaces without modifying or accessing the U.S.-controlled core flight software. This separation was a key development requirement agreed early in the program, enabling Israel to integrate its own electronic warfare and intelligence systems, national mission software elements, and Israeli weapons. This approach provides Israel with sovereign control over communications, data handling, and electronic warfare behavior. At the same time, the aircraft remains compatible with allied systems at the F-35 level.

Electronic warfare and connectivity represent key areas of divergence for the F-35I, explaining partly a price of about $95–$100 million per aircraft. Israeli systems supplement or replace standard components to address regional air defense environments and to allow rapid updates without external dependency. The aircraft employs Israeli data links that enable real-time connectivity with other Israeli combat aircraft, ground command systems, unmanned platforms, and air and missile defense assets. This connectivity allows the F-35I to act not only as a strike platform but also as an airborne sensor and coordination node. The emphasis on network integration reflects an operational concept centered on shared situational awareness. This role has been reinforced by continuous operational use since late 2023.

The F-35I Adir retains the main characteristics of the F-35A, with an overall length of 15.7 meters, a wingspan of 10.7 meters, and a height of 4.38 meters. It is powered by a single Pratt and Whitney F135 turbofan engine rated at 191.27 kilonewtons of thrust with afterburner. The maximum takeoff weight is 31.8 tonnes, while internal payload capacity reaches 8,160 kilograms. The aircraft is capable of a maximum speed of Mach 1.6 and operates at a service ceiling of about 18,300 meters. On internal fuel, the combat radius exceeds 1,000 kilometers, consistent with the F-35A performance envelope, with endurance and range further expandable through externally mounted fuel solutions when required.

Weapons integration and sustainment further distinguish the F-35I configuration. Israel has certified domestically produced air-to-air missiles, such as the Python-5, and guided bombs, including the Spice-1000 and Spice-2000, for carriage while maintaining low observability through internal bays, with external carriage available when required. Maintenance and sustainment are centered at Nevatim, reducing reliance on external logistics chains during periods of high operational demand. This approach is intended to preserve aircraft availability and sortie rates. Combined with national mission systems and connectivity, these elements define the F-35I Adir as a fifth-generation jet adapted to Israel’s operational, geographic, and strategic requirements.

Written by Jérôme Brahy

Jérôme Brahy is a defense analyst and documentalist at Army Recognition. He specializes in naval modernization, aviation, drones, armored vehicles, and artillery, with a focus on strategic developments in the United States, China, Ukraine, Russia, Türkiye, and Belgium. His analyses go beyond the facts, providing context, identifying key actors, and explaining why defense news matters on a global scale.