As part of an air force mission, two US B-52H Stratofortresses were flown over the Middle East by the Israeli Air Force (IAF) F-35I “Adir” fighters last week. If the bombers are sent somewhere else, the IAF will have more Adirs to protect them.
Lockheed Martin sent three new F-35s to Israel on Sunday. They joined the 33 F-35s that were already there. The new fighter planes will be added to the IAF’s 140 Squadron, which is called the Golden Eagle. In the coming weeks, they will start taking part in operational activities.
Jerusalem remains on track to acquire another fourteen F-35s by the end of next year, bringing the total fleet of fifth-generation stealth aircraft to fifty.
F-35I: First foreign operator
Israel was the first foreign operator of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, and the country signed a Letter of Agreement (LOA) to acquire the advanced aircraft in 2010.
On June 22, 2016, the IAF took delivery of the first F-35A Adir in a ceremony at the F-35 factory in Fort Worth, Texas. The Israel Air Force declared its F-35 fleet operationally capable in December 2017, marking the completion of an intensive integration and training effort conducted at Nevatim Air Force Base (AFB), Israel. The Israeli Air Force gave the F-35 the Hebrew name Adir, which means “Mighty” in Hebrew.
Some 860 F-35 aircraft have been delivered and entered into service worldwide, having accumulated more than 590,000 flight hours. The aircraft operates around the world from 36 locations and carriers and is in service with nine different countries. In contrast, half a dozen more partner nations will operate the fighter by the decade’s end.
THE F-35I ADIR – Truly powerful
The IAF is unique in that it also operates a special variant developed to address concerns that the F-35’s stealth capabilities could be partially surpassed in a decade, despite thirty to forty years of life. Useful of the aircraft.
Israel intended to use its electronic warfare system (EWS). Although the United States initially refused to allow such changes, it was eventually agreed that the IAF could integrate its own EWS, including sensors and countermeasures, into American systems.
