Israel Bolsters F-35i Fleet; Three Stealth Fighters Arrive at Nevatim Airbase

By: Fern Sidman

In a significant strategic development that places an emphasis on Israel’s growing need for aerial superiority, three new F-35i “Adir” stealth fighter jets landed last Thursday at the Israeli Air Force’s Nevatim Airbase, strengthening Israel’s advanced fifth-generation fleet at a critical juncture in regional security. As was reported by Israel Hayom, the arrival of these cutting-edge aircraft comes against the backdrop of escalating tensions with Iran and intensifying regional threats that continue to challenge Israel’s defense posture.

The expansion of the Israeli Air Force’s F-35i fleet is not merely a symbolic reinforcement—it represents a tangible leap in Israel’s precision strike capability at a time when Iranian military activities are growing increasingly provocative. According to Israel Hayom, Iran recently carried out large-scale air defense drills explicitly designed to simulate scenarios of Israeli aerial attacks—an exercise that has heightened Israeli concerns about the Islamic Republic’s intent and readiness.

The arrival of the new aircraft is part of a broader evolution in Israel’s military preparedness, particularly its aerial strike capabilities. Since the outbreak of hostilities in the region months ago, Israel’s F-35i fleet has logged an impressive 15,000 operational flight hours, participating in thousands of combat missions across multiple theaters, the report at Israel Hayom said. These missions have spanned several fronts, reflecting the multi-dimensional nature of the threats Israel faces—from the north in Lebanon and Syria to the south in Gaza, and the looming strategic threat posed by Iran.

This sustained operational tempo has enabled the Israeli Air Force to not only deepen its combat experience with the F-35i platform but also to refine and adapt tactical doctrines in real-time. The lessons gleaned from these engagements have led to significant enhancements in operational readiness and mission execution—a fact that Israeli defense officials view as a critical advantage amid the increasingly volatile strategic environment.

Perhaps one of the most consequential developments highlighted in the Israel Hayom report is the innovative modification of the F-35i platform to support external weapon configurations. Traditionally, F-35 aircraft are designed to carry their weapons internally to preserve stealth characteristics. However, the Israeli Air Force, working in close collaboration with Lockheed Martin and the Pentagon’s F-35 Joint Program Office, has successfully adapted the F-35i to carry external JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) precision-guided bombs on its wings.

This unprecedented adaptation makes Israel’s “Adir” variant the only F-35 version in the world that has conducted real-world combat operations with an external weapons loadout—effectively redefining the aircraft’s mission profile and elevating its firepower potential. The new configuration allows the F-35i to deliver heavier payloads while still leveraging its superior sensor fusion, advanced avionics, and network-centric warfare capabilities.

This breakthrough represents a strategic turning point for Israel’s precision strike capabilities. As indicated in the Israel Hayom report is the ability to augment the F-35i’s payload without sacrificing its battlefield dominance greatly enhances its operational flexibility—an asset of critical importance as Israel contemplates various potential conflict scenarios, including preemptive or retaliatory strikes against Iranian nuclear infrastructure or high-value targets across hostile territories.

The arrival of these new jets is no coincidence. As the Israel Hayom report noted, Iran’s recent military drills were explicitly geared toward preparing its air defense systems for Israeli incursions—an unmistakable signal of the Islamic Republic’s war-gaming against Israel’s growing aerial reach. Iranian officials have also issued repeated threats in response to Israeli military activities.