How Israel’s F-35I Adir Destroyed Iranian Air Defenses

by Kris Osborn, President, Warrior

Key Points: The Israeli Defense Force’s F-35I Adir has demonstrated remarkable combat performance, effectively neutralizing Iranian air defenses, including Russian-built S-300 systems, without sustaining losses.

-Leveraging advanced stealth and electronic warfare (EW) capabilities, the F-35I executed precision strikes from over 100 miles away, maintaining air superiority. Equipped with Israel-specific modifications, the Adir variant counters regional threats, integrating cutting-edge EW technology to jam and disable hostile systems.

-While some reports claim Iranian success in targeting F-35s, evidence suggests otherwise, with the IDF’s operations reflecting the F-35I’s unmatched combination of stealth, survivability, and precision, further solidifying its status as a game-changing platform.

F-35I Adir: How Israel’s Variant Outsmarted Iran’s Air Defenses

The F-35 is again at the center stage as a focus of criticism, concern, and hesitation due to considerable maintenance, production, and cost issues. 

Yet, the aircraft’s actual performance in combat offers a distinct window into the merits of the 5th-generation plane. 

This is perhaps most evident with the Israeli Defense Force’s specially configured  F-35I Adir variant’s performance against Iran, as the aircraft was universally reported to succeed in eluding, tracking, and “wiping out” the majority of Iranian air defenses during its recent military operations. 

While it may not be clear just how modernized and functional Iran’s Russian-built S-300s and S-400s are, the F-35s performance against these famous and well-known air defense systems seems highly significant.