- The Israel Air Force (IAF) became the first in the world to equip an F-35 with external weapons during an active conflict. A recently released image shows an Israeli F-35i carrying a full set of external munitions in a “Beast Mode” configuration.
- Israel did not disclosed where or when the F-35s used these weapons, but its Adir fleet logged over 15,000 operational flight hours and participated in thousands of sorties since the war with Hamas began.
- With the ceasefire over, the IDF is expanding operations in Gaza, and could prioritize increased payload capacity over stealth since Hamas lacks an air force.
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The Israel Air Force (IAF) revealed it was the first in the world to equip an F-35 with external weapons during an active conflict.
In mid-March, the IAF released a picture of one of its F-35i stealth fighters carrying a full complement of external weapons. This configuration, often referred to as “Beast Mode” in the aviation community, significantly increases the aircraft’s firepower at the cost of stealth.
The Israeli setup included four Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) mounted on external pylons. While the idea of carrying external weapons on an F-35 isn’t new, the IAF is the first in the world to deploy this configuration in a real-world operation.
Where did Israel’s F-35s strike?
Israel did not disclose when or where its F-35s used external munitions. The operations could have taken place in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria or Iran. Since the start of the war with Hamas, Israel’s F-35 fleet, known as the Adir meaning “Mighty” in Hebrew, logged more than 15,000 operational flight hours. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the Adir participated in thousands of sorties across multiple theaters.
JDAM: A smart weapon for modern warfare
The JDAM is one of the more common munitions in both the U.S. and Israeli arsenals. It combines a standard unguided bomb with a precision guidance kit and seeker kit, transforming a “dumb” bomb into a smart weapon. Depending on the guidance and seeker system setup, JDAMs can also be used to strike targets at sea. A tactic pioneered by the Air Force Research Lab and its QuickSink program.
The future of Israel’s air campaign
Now that the ceasefire between Israel and Hamas is over, the IDF is preparing to expand its operations in Gaza. Since Hamas lacks an air force, Israel may opt to exchange the F-35’s stealth capabilities for increased payload capacity — an easy trade-off in this conflict.
The IAF continues to be at the forefront of new F-35 developments, pushing the aircraft’s combat potential to new limits.