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UK Military Chief Acknowledges Israel’s F-35 Usage in Strikes Against Iran
The United Kingdom’s leading military figure has confirmed that Israel deployed F-35 stealth fighter jets during its October attacks targeting Iranian military sites. Admiral Tony Radakin, the UK’s Chief of Defence Staff, emphasized the operational capabilities of fifth-generation aircraft in these efforts.
During a lecture at the Royal United Services Institute in London, Adm. Radakin stated that Israel executed significant strikes on October 26, targeting key military installations in Iran such as air-defense infrastructures and missile production facilities. This revelation appears to be the first official acknowledgment from a Western government regarding the use of F-35s in this operation, which was a direct response to a previously launched Iranian missile assault earlier that month.
According to Radakin, the Israeli operation was extensive, involving over 100 aircraft that employed a strategy of launching fewer than 100 munitions without any planes approaching within 100 miles of their targets during the initial wave. “This operation effectively dismantled a substantial portion of Iran’s air-defense capabilities,” he remarked.
Radakin further detailed that the strikes have severely hindered Iran’s capacity to produce ballistic missiles for at least a year, thereby placing Tehran in a challenging strategic position regarding their next steps. He attributed this success to the advanced capabilities of fifth-generation aircraft, enhanced by precise targeting and exceptional intelligence-gathering efforts. “All this was accomplished from a single sortie,” he noted.
He commented on the operation’s demonstration of the “disproportionate advantage of modern warfare,” highlighting the evolving nature of military engagements in the contemporary era. An inquiry to the Israel Defense Forces regarding Radakin’s statements has yet to yield a response.
Overview of the F-35 Fighter Jet
The F-35, developed by Lockheed Martin, is a single-engine, multi-role stealth aircraft recognized for its advanced technology and capabilities. The fighter jet has various models, and it has been in service for nearly 20 years, with several countries operating different variants.
Since its initial combat deployment in 2018, Israel has become a key operator of the F-35, currently possessing just under 40 F-35I jets, a specific model tailored for Israeli needs. Plans are underway to expand this fleet to 75 units in the coming years. The F-35I remains Israel’s only fifth-generation combat aircraft, alongside its older F-16 and F-15 fleets.
This acknowledgment of the F-35’s capabilities comes on the heels of criticism from tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, who recently disparaged the aircraft’s design and questioned the effectiveness of its stealth technology. Musk’s remarks have prompted considerable pushback from military aviation experts who defend the aircraft’s integral role within the Pentagon’s defense strategy.
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