Israeli Air Force (IAF) F-35I Adir
The top military officer in the UK confirmed that Israel used F-35 stealth fighter jets in its coordinated attacks against Iran in late October. This is a rare and revealing statement. Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the UK’s Chief of Defence Staff, said that the operation showed how powerful fifth-generation fighter aircraft are and how advanced air power is changing modern warfare.
A strategic blow that was delivered with accuracy
Adm. Radakin praised Israel’s 26 October operation as a brilliant display of modern air warfare at RUSI in London. More than 100 Israeli aircraft took part, releasing fewer than 100 precision-guided bombs on carefully chosen Iranian military targets.
The mission struck air defence systems and factories that produce ballistic missiles, dealing a heavy blow to Iran’s defences. Radakin said the operation was astonishing because the first wave never came within 100 miles of the primary targets. Yet even that opening wave destroyed almost the entirety of Iran’s integrated air defence network in one coordinated strike.
According to Radakin, it’s an amazing show of what fifth-generation planes can do. “It has stopped Iran from making ballistic missiles for up to a year and made it hard for Tehran to decide what to do next.”
The F-35’s Power and Stealth
At the centre of the operation was the F-35 Lightning II, which is one of the most advanced fighter jets in use today. The F-35 was made by the US defense contractor Lockheed Martin. It has stealth technology, advanced sensors, and unmatched data fusion capabilities that make it the best fighter in the world. It is considered the pinnacle of fifth-generation aviation.
Israel was the first country to use the F-35 in battle. Reports of operational strikes date back to 2018. The Israeli Air Force uses a special version called the F-35I “Adir.” It is based on the regular F-35A model but has Israeli-made electronics and software that make it different. Israel wants to build up its fleet to 75 ships over the coming years. It currently has just under 40 ships in service.
The F-35I is Israel’s only fifth-generation plane right now. It joins its older fourth-generation planes, like the F-15 and F-16, which were also made in the US. In Israel’s history of strategic air strikes, the recent operation in Iran seems to have been one of the largest and most successful uses of the F-35I.
A Change in the Military Balance
Reports say the October strikes answered Iran’s earlier large-scale missile attack, which had already raised regional tensions. Israel’s precise response showed its technological strength and sent a message about striking deep with minimal troop risk.
Admiral Radakin said the mission reflected a broader military trend in information control, stealth, and precision warfare. He noted that modern methods of fighting provide an “unfair edge” when effectively combined and deployed in combat. Radakin explained that small, coordinated assets can achieve massive strategic impact using advanced technology, real-time intelligence, and surgical strikes.
Responding to the Doubters
Whether Radakin intended it or not, his praise for the F-35 also served to counter recent public criticism of the plane. Elon Musk, the CEO of SpaceX and a well-known figure on social media, has publicly questioned the F-35’s usefulness and design recently. Musk said that the fighter jet wasn’t fast enough or stealthy enough to justify its high price, and he said that drone technology would soon make platforms like this useless.
Many military experts and defense officials disagreed with him and pointed to how well the F-35 actually performed in conflict zones. Radakin’s comments support the idea that the F-35 is still an important weapon in modern air warfare, even though it is expensive and took a long time to build.
Broken Western Silence
Up until Radakin’s statement, no Western government had confirmed in public that Israel used the F-35 in the October strikes. Radakin officially confirmed the planes’ role in the operation, after media and analysts had only speculated about it.
Business Insider asked the Israel Defence Forces (IDF) for a comment, but they haven’t replied to Radakin’s news. Israel usually doesn’t say much about its military operations, especially those that happen outside of its borders, so as not to cause problems in the region or draw attention from other countries.
What’s Next for Air Power
The strikes by Israel in October showed how useful fifth-generation fighters can be in real life. More countries are updating their air forces, and they view the F-35 as the best fighter plane in the sky. The jet has proven its worth by giving unmatched results on the battlefield, even though it has high operating expenses and was the subject of political debate when it was bought.
When you live in a place like Israel that is constantly facing new threats and changing tensions in the region, being able to launch long-range, high-impact missions with little risk is not only a strategic advantage; it’s a must. Adm. Radakin’s statement is more than just a military evaluation; it’s also a reminder of how war is changing, with speed, stealth, and data superiority becoming more and more important to victory.
References
- Royal United Services Institute (RUSI)—https://www.rusi.org
- Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II – https://www.lockheedmartin.com/en-us/products/f-35.html
- Business Insider report on Radakin’s comments—https://www.businessinsider.com
- Israeli Air Force: F-35I Adir Overview—
- Defence News Today (for military updates)—https://www.defensenewstoday.info
- Facebook Group: Pakistan Defence Forum—https://www.facebook.com/groups/pakistandefenseforum
- Elon Musk on F-35 critique (X/Twitter source) – https://twitter.com/elonmusk
