In keeping with the ongoing news coming from the Middle East, and the variety of (mostly false) claims about the Islamic Republic of Iran’s hidden military supremacy, it is now time to address one of the most interesting claims made by Tehran in the last year. 

Did Iran Destroy Israel’s F-35I Fleet?

During the back-and-forth missile and drone exchange with Israel, Iran’s military alleged that their airstrikes against Israel were so successful that Nevatim Airbase was hit, and Israel’s entire fleet of powerful Lockheed Martin F-35I “Adir” fifth-generation warplanes were lost (the F-35Is are based at Nevatim).

After those claims were made, Israel’s government denied them. When internet sleuths took to the web to verify the claims made by Iran, they found the base shrouded by Google Earth’s programmers. Clearly, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) did not want interlopers to see whatever had happened at Nevatim. 

We know, for instance, that some Iranian missiles made it through Israel’s powerful Iron Dome air defense system and did hit Nevatim. In all likelihood, though, Israel’s F-35Is were unmolested.

Indeed, shortly thereafter, it was Israeli F-35Is that led a critical (and daring) airstrike against hardened military targets in Iran. According to the Israelis, their airstrikes were so successful that they eviscerated Iran’s layered air defense network by obliterating the Russian-built S-300 air defense systems that Iran had deployed. 

Israeli military leaders were likely overstating things when they said that Iran was “essentially naked” and, therefore, open to another round of escalation by the Israeli Air Force. But, there can be little doubt that the Israelis did far more damage to Iran than did Iran to Israel.

And the fact that the F-35Is were used in the strike proves that the Iranians lied about the success of their missile attack on Nevatim. One Israeli source told me on condition of anonymity that the Israelis assumed the Iranians were going to strike Nevatim and the IAF had launched the F-35s well before the missiles entered Israeli airspace, leaving no F-35s at the base to be threatened. It was all an Iranian propaganda ploy. 

The Specs

The F-35I “Adir” (“Mighty One,” in Hebrew) is a single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole warplane. Designed around the principles of supercruise, stealth, sensor fusion, and network-centric warfare, the F-35 is undoubtedly the most powerful plane in Israel’s impressive warplane fleet. There’s a reason that the Iranians targeted the main base where Israel’s F-35s are housed. Taking these planes out, or knocking a sizable portion of them out, would be a great boon for the Iranians.

Possessed of radar-absorbing materials and design, the F-35I is one of the most complex stealth planes in the world. As a deep penetrating strike aircraft, the stealthiness of the F-35I is key for mission success. And the F-35I has a very significant success rate. Not only did the F-35I render “naked” Iran’s complex web of air defenses, but before that, the F-35I was skillfully used to hit distant Houthi Rebel targets in Yemen.

The F-35I features a panoramic cockpit display, giving pilots an unparalleled view of their surroundings and tactical information. The touch-sensitive glass cockpit reduces pilot workload through intuitive controls, too. As for weapons. The F-35I is made to carry a variety of armaments, especially Israeli-made bombs and missiles that fit internally and externally on the craft. 

These birds can conduct air-to-air as well as air-to-ground attacks.

These Planes Aren’t Going Anywhere 

Like so many systems that US defense contractors sell to Israel’s military, the F-35I was customized. The IAF installed an enhanced electronic warfare suite, including a unique Israeli electronic countermeasure system (ECM) that are tailored to protect the bird against specific attackers in the Middle East.

Israel added extra fuel tanks to increase the F-35I’s range (for obvious strike options against distant targets, such as those in Iran and Yemen). Of course, the external tanks reduce the stealthiness of the plane. 

So, had the Israelis truly lost their F-35I fleet in Iran’s missile barrage last year, the Israelis would be in a very dangerous spot right now. But they clearly did not lose those birds. Indeed, they took them to Iran itself and sent a resounding message to the mullahs who purport to rule over Iran by attacking sensitive targets deep inside the Islamic Republic. Reports suggest that the IAF has an additional 25 units of the F-35I on order, bringing the total number of the plane to 75 in the IAF.

This should indicate how important the plane is for Israel’s security. 

Brandon J. Weichert, a Senior National Security Editor at The National Interest as well as a Senior Fellow at the Center for the National Interest, and a contributor at Popular Mechanics, consults regularly with various government institutions and private organizations on geopolitical issues. Weichert’s writings have appeared in multiple publications, including the Washington Times, National Review, The American Spectator, MSN, the Asia Times, and countless others. His books include Winning Space: How America Remains a Superpower, Biohacked: China’s Race to Control Life, and The Shadow War: Iran’s Quest for Supremacy. His newest book, A Disaster of Our Own Making: How the West Lost Ukraine is available for purchase wherever books are sold. He can be followed via Twitter @WeTheBrandon.

Image: Wikimedia Commons.