Three F-35i “Adir” jets, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, landed last week (Thursday) at Nevatim Airbase. These aircraft will be integrated into the Israeli Air Force and the “Lions of the South” (116) Squadron. The Air Force insignia has been imprinted on the aircraft, as confirmed today (Sunday) by the IDF Spokesperson.
Over 15,000 Operational Flight Hours
Since the outbreak of the war, the “Adir” fleet has accumulated over 15,000 operational flight hours and has participated in thousands of missions across all theaters. The aircraft’s operational experience and versatility across different mission profiles have provided significant combat insights.
Originally designed to carry munitions internally, the “Adir” has been upgraded during the war with a new capability developed at the Flight Testing Center (MANAT) in collaboration with Lockheed Martin and the Pentagon’s F-35 program. This new development allows the aircraft to carry JDAM external munitions on its wings.
The Israeli “Adir” is the only F-35 in the world to have conducted operational strikes with an external weapons configuration, significantly increasing its strike capacity. The expansion of the “Adir” fleet represents a substantial boost to the Israeli Air Force’s lethal capabilities.
