Combat debut of Israeli F-35s

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Israel keeps quiet over F-35I's combat debut
 
16 MARCH, 2018 SOURCE: FLIGHTGLOBAL.COM
BY: ARIE EGOZI TEL AVIV

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/articles/israel-keeps-quiet-over-f-35is-combat-debut-446817/

Israel’s Lockheed Martin F-35I "Adir" is reported to have made its combat debut during strikes conducted against Syrian air defence systems last month. The action was mounted following a border clash that culminated in an Israeli air force Lockheed F-16 being shot down by a surface-to-air missile.

The F-35I's suggested offensive debut has not been confirmed officially, with Israeli air force commander Maj Gen Amikam Norkin having classified all operations with the type.

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The Israeli air force's "Golden Eagle" squadron currently operates nine F-35Is, and is due to receive another six examples this year.

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Israel orders 17 more F-35A stealth fighters jets | air recognition - 28 November 2016

Israel will buy 17 more F-35A stealth fighter jets yesterday, after a vote of approval yesterday, Nov. 27, by the country's Security Cabinet. This additionnal batch of "Adir" fighters will bring up Israel Air Force to a total of 50 F-35A by the end of 2030. These fighters are to be purchased with the military foreign aid received from the U.S through a Memorandum of Understanding signed in September 2016.

srael's F-35A Adir performing its maiden flight on July 25 (Credit: Lockheed Martin)

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Israeli F-35s to be declared operational in December | IHS Jane's 360 - 22 June 2017

The operational status will apply to the five F-35s already delivered to the IAF as well as all future jets on their arrival. Israel has ordered 50 jets to equip two full squadrons, with final deliveries expected in 2022.

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Second Adir F-35I Squadron is on the horizon for Israeli Air Force | Air Recognition - 31 July 2017

After seven months of integration and preparation for IOC (Initial Operational Capability), the second “Adir” F-35I Squadron is on the horizon as its establishment team is expected to begin working next summer

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Integrating this aircraft is extremely complex. It is a long maturation process and it is fundamentally different to the way we integrated other aircraft such as the ‘Sufa’ (F-16I) ‘Baz’ (F-15I) or the F-4 Phantom”, explained Lt. Col. Yotam. “In contrast to them, in this case we are integrating an aircraft that is still being developed. Earlier generation aircraft had software updates, but in the ‘Adir’, basic systems are updates as well as software. The F-35’s development process is completely different from any other aircraft’s”.

F-35I Adir. Israeli Air Force picture by Celia Garion

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Israel orders additional F-35s | IHS Jane's 360 - 29 August 2017

Israel will purchase an additional 17 Lockheed Martin F-35A Joint Strike Fighters, the Israel Ministry of Defense (MoD) announced on 27 August.

The order was placed by the MoD’s procurement delegation to the United States after it had been approved by the Israeli cabinet.

The aircraft are scheduled to arrive by December 2024, at which point the Israeli Air Force will have a fleet of 50 F-35As – known as the F-35I Adir in Israeli service - divided into two squadrons.

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) should have the 33 aircraft that it has ordered under two previous transactions by 2021.

A photo released by the IAF on 20 August shows an F-35I Adir carrying out aerial refuelling with a Re'em tanker from the Desert Giants Squadron as part of the new type’s operationalisation programme. Source: Israeli Air Force

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Israeli Air Force Declares Adir F-35I Operational | Air Recognition - 06 December 2017

A new age in the IAF: merely a year after arriving in Israel, the “Adir” (F-35I) fighter was declared operational. The fifth generation fighter jet, manufactured by “Lockheed Martin” is considered one of the world’s most advanced fighter aircraft.

The IAF “Adir” (F-35I), which landed in Israel a year ago, was declared operational upon the completion of an initial operational capability inspection. Picture by Maj. Ofer
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F-35I Adir. Israeli Air Force picture by Celia Garion

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Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Photo by Angel DelCueto     
Job Reference Number: FP161047 Murray     
WMJ Reference Number: 16-03883     
Customer: Allie Murray, Communications   
Event: AS-1 First Flight, CO-1 Flight 
Aircraft: F-35, Israel     
Location: Fort Worth, TX       
Date: 07-25-2016 
Time:  1200-1400

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Report: Israeli fighters fly over Iran
Two IAF F-35 Adir fighter jets entered Iranian airspace undetected, according to the Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida.
BY YASSER OKBI/ MAARIV HASHAVUA, JPOST.COM STAFF   MARCH 29, 2018 19:15 

http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Report-Israeli-stealth-fighters-fly-over-Iran-547421

Two Israeli F-35 fighter jets entered Iranian airspace over the past month, Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida reported on Thursday. The act is a signal of heightened regional tensions, especially in light of recent Israeli military attacks in Syria, including against Iranian bases in the country.

Sources quoted in Al-Jarida stated that two stealth fighters flew over Syrian and Iraqi airspace to reach Iran, and even targeted locations in the Iranian cities Bandar Abbas, Esfahan and Shiraz.

The report states that the two fighter jets, among the most advanced in the world, circled at high altitude above Persian Gulf sites suspected of being associated with the Iranian nuclear program.

It also states that the two jets went undetected by radar, including by the Russian radar system located in Syria. The source refused to confirm if the operation was undertaken in coordination with the US army, which has recently conducted joint exercises with the IDF.

The source added that the seven F-35 fighters in active service in the IAF have conducted a number of missions in Syria and on the Lebanese-Syrian border. He underlined that the fighter jets can travel from Israel to Iran twice without refueling.

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[Ayoshi]

From: jpost.com - May 22, 2018

IAF Commander: Israel first to use F-35 jet in combat

Israel has struck targets in the Middle East with the F-35 Adir jet twice, making the Jewish state the first country to use the stealth fighter in a combat role in the region, Israel Air Force Commander Maj.-Gen. Amikam Norkin announced on Tuesday.

“We are flying the F-35 all over the Middle East. It has become part of our operational capabilities. We are the first to attack using the F-35 in the Middle East and have already attacked twice on different fronts,” he said during the IAF Senior Air Force Conference in Herzliya.

[Ayoshi]

https://www.shephardmedia.com/news/defence-notes/iai-reaches-f-35-aircraft-wing-milestone/

IAI reaches F-35 aircraft wing milestone
27th September 2019 - 14:30 GMT

Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) has delivered the 100th F-35 wing to Lockheed Martin at a ceremony held at the company’s wing assembly line on 26 September.

The wing manufacturing centre of IAI’s aviation division was established in November 2014, and is expected to manufacture above 800 F-35 wings by 2034. On December 2018, IAI inaugurated a line for production of F-35 wing skins, expanding the collaboration between the two companies.