The Israeli Defense Force F-35I Adir flies this variation of the stealth fighter modified for their use only. Arriving at Israel's Nevatim Air Base added up a total of 33, but 17 are expected to be delivered to the IDF. Once the order is complete, there will be a total of 50 operational fifth-generation fighters arming Jerusalem.
Israeli Air Force's Special Stealth Fighter
Israel, the only F-35 operator in the Middle East, received three of its scheduled order of F-35s in September 2021, reported the View60s.
Israel is the first foreign nation to choose the F-35 via the US government's Foreign Military Sales process after the Letter of Agreement was signed more than ten years ago in October 2010.
In 2016 and on June 22, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) got the first F-35A at a ceremony held at Lockheed Martin's Fort Worth, Texas facilities.
The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) was the first foreign military to consider buying the aircraft. One concern is raised that the stealth capabilities will be partly defeated in about a decade, even with the 30 to 40-year service life.
To ensure the fighter could still be effective, Israel sought to develop its electronic warfare system (EWS) for the IDF use only, cited 19FortyFive.
Before this, the US was not okay with the changes the IDF wanted; later, the EWS, including sensors and countermeasures, with the US systems.
Additional modifications on the Israeli Defense Force F-35I Adir include an IAF-tailored visor display, IDF-specific datalink capability, and other enhancements that improved the F-35's already formidable data gathering and powerful processors.
The mods on the version of the IAF prompted a name change and added 'I' on the F-351; this would be only a few of the F-35 variants, noted The National Interest.
The IAF included the word 'Adir,' which means the mighty one in the Hebrew language.
Stealth Fighter Upgrades
Israel announced earlier that it would buy more than 100 F-35s modified to IAF specs which would cost more than $5 billion. There are older F-16 that are 50 in all; f-16s are getting obsolete.
Based on the procurement negotiations, the 19 delivered first were in the ordinary F-35A variant, but the planes after it will be the 'I' variants of the IAF.
IAF has 30 F-35s in service from September 2021 and currently operates three squadrons at Nevatim Air Base, located in the southeast of Be'er Sheva, close to moshav Nevatim.
Squadrons with the stealth fighter us the Lions of the South (116 Squadron), which got them first, then the First Jet (117 Squadron) used for training pilots. Last is the Golden Eagle Squadron (140th group); it was reactivated in 2015 to get the Adir.
Last May 22, 2018, Major General Amikam Norkin, a commander in the Israeli Air Force, reported to the media a first for any operator of these jets. The plane attacked and destroyed Syrian missile sites in the ground attack role.
Another accomplishment is that Adir was used to shooting two Iranian drones in the sky for the first time. As the Middle East heats up, these planes are a game-changer for the IAF.
Israeli Defense Force F-35I Adir adds to the capability of their air force using the stealth fighter and its advantages that will be something to reckon with.
