With a planned fleet of 75 F-35 fighter jets, the Israeli Air Force is set to dramatically enhance its capabilities. After the latest delivery from the US, the IDF now has 42 stealth aircraft, Kan News reported, with more to come later this decade.
The F-35s cutting-edge technology offers a range of operational advantages that will allow Israel to conduct sophisticated missions across multiple fronts, maintain deterrence, and adapt to evolving threats.
With 75 aircraft, Israel could deploy squadrons simultaneously against threats from multiple fronts such as Iran, Yemen and Lebanon without compromising its defensive posture. This multi-front capability is critical as Israel faces a web of adversaries, often backed by coordinated support from Tehran.
Notably, each F-35 is equipped with advanced sensors, integrating data from its radar, electro-optical targeting system, and electronic warfare suite into a single, real-time battlefield picture.
With 75 jets networked together, Israel could execute large-scale operations with unprecedented situational awareness, coordinating strikes, reconnaissance, and air defense suppression across vast distances.
This scalability enhances Israel’s ability to overwhelm enemy defenses, targeting everything from missile sites to command centers with precision-guided munitions.
Beyond offensive operations, the fleet size ensures operational resilience. Maintenance cycles and combat losses won’t cripple Israel’s air power, as the IDF can rotate jets to sustain prolonged campaigns.
The F-35’s interoperability with US and NATO forces also opens doors for joint exercises or coalition operations, further amplifying Israel’s strategic reach.
Israel upgrades its F-35s
Israel significantly enhanced its F-35 fighters, tailoring them for potential long-range strikes against Iran through a combination of innovative upgrades and classified technologies.
The IDF focused on extending the jets’ operational range, a critical factor for reaching Iranian targets without mid-air refueling. This upgrade reportedly includes the integration of new fuel tanks, allowing the F-35s to cover greater distances while maintaining their stealth profile.
In 2023, the IDF conducted successful simulations in southern Israel, arming the jets with bunker-busting JDAM-84 munitions, demonstrating their capability to strike hardened targets like Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Beyond range and weaponry, Israel has equipped its F-35s with advanced indigenous systems, including cutting-edge sensors and electronic warfare capabilities. These upgrades, some of which remain highly classified, enable the jets to disrupt enemy radar and air defenses.
The Air Force also integrated Israeli-made helmets with “look and kill” technology, allowing pilots to guide missiles using head movements, enhancing combat precision. [here’s more information on Israel’s technological upgrades]
Notably, a unique F-35 test jet provides Israel with the ability to independently develop and deploy these and future modifications.
