Three new F-35 model stealth aircraft arrived yesterday at the Nabatim Air Force base. The planes flew from Texas accompanied by US refuelling planes, making the long journey to Israel non-stop.
The arriving fighter jets are added to the dozens of stealth aircraft Israel already possesses. The new models, however, have undergone modernisation and have additional capabilities that were not available to the first stealth aircraft Israel received in the past.
In addition, the Israel Defence Forces press office reported that the Israel Defence Forces conducted a first-of-its-kind exercise to drop bunker-busting bombs from stealth planes, which is certainly an important signal to the Iranian regime.
Three more stealth aircraft will arrive in Israel in the coming months, bringing the total number of stealth aircraft in Israel to 42.
In addition, by the end of next year, Israel’s order to receive 50 F-35 aircraft will be fulfilled. Afterwards, the additional supply of 25 stealth aircraft will begin, the decision to acquire which was made only recently. Notably, these new aircraft will have significantly higher capabilities than the current ones.
In total, the corps of Israeli stealth aircraft is expected to reach about 75 F-35 model fighters.
It is also important to note that these aircraft not only have exceptional abilities to remain undetected by airborne detection systems, but also many other critical capabilities, including: ultra-modern AESA radar (which provides high resolution and is resistant to severe weather conditions), a wide range of electronic warfare capabilities, the ability to gather intelligence from a multitude of sensors mounted on the aircraft and to provide the pilot with the most complete picture of the battle, allowing him to make effective decisions and responses to the threat.
It should also be noted that the aircraft are also equipped with unique Israeli systems.