Defence Chief: Israel's F-35 jets key in devastating retaliatory strikes on Iran

Israel demonstrated the advanced capabilities of its F-35 stealth fighter jets during its late October retaliatory strikes on Iran, according to Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, the UK’s Chief of Defence Staff.

Radakin shared details about the operation during a lecture at the Royal United Services Institute in London on December 4, Caliber.Az reports per foreign media.

The strikes, which took place on October 26, targeted military installations across Iran, including air-defence systems and missile production facilities. Radakin’s remarks mark the first apparent confirmation from a Western government that Israel used its fifth-generation aircraft in the operation.

“Israel used more than 100 aircraft, carrying fewer than 100 munitions, and with no aircraft getting within 100 miles of the target in the first wave, and that took down nearly the entirety of Iran’s air-defence system,” Radakin said.

The operation was reportedly in response to a large-scale Iranian missile attack earlier in the month. It was previously reported that Israel employed F-35 jets and air-launched ballistic missiles during the strike. Radakin highlighted the mission's effectiveness, stating:

“It has destroyed Iran’s ability to produce ballistic missiles for a year and left Tehran with a strategic dilemma in how it responds. That is the power of fifth-generation aircraft, combined with exquisite targeting and extraordinary intelligence. And that was all delivered from a single sortie.”

Radakin emphasized that the operation demonstrated the “disproportionate advantage of modern ways of fighting.”

Israel was the first nation to use the F-35 in combat in 2018 and currently operates nearly 40 F-35I jets, a customized version of the F-35A model. This fleet is expected to grow to 75 aircraft in the coming years. The F-35I remains Israel’s only fifth-generation fighter, complementing its fleet of older F-16 and F-15 jets.

The F-35, developed by US defence contractor Lockheed Martin, is a multirole stealth aircraft designed to dominate in advanced air combat scenarios. It is widely regarded as a cornerstone of modern airpower, although it has faced criticism over its cost.

Radakin’s remarks on the advantages of fifth-generation platforms come in the wake of comments by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk, who criticized the F-35 on social media last month. Musk questioned its design and stealth capabilities, sparking a debate among airpower experts, who defended the aircraft’s operational effectiveness.

The Israeli Defence Forces have not yet responded to inquiries regarding Radakin’s comments.

By Aghakazim Guliyev