Israel's F-35 Fighters: The Key to Destroying Iran's Nuclear Program

Summary: As Iran advances its nuclear program, Israel may consider another preemptive strike, potentially using F-35I Adir jets alongside F-15s and F-16s.

-Such an operation would be complex and risky, but Israel's history of decisive actions against nuclear threats suggests it remains a possibility.

The F-35I Adir: The Fighter Plane Iran Fears Most...and For Good Reasons 

In April, Iran and Israel exchanged missile strikes, but avoided further escalation. It was three years earlier that Tehran accused the Jewish state of orchestrating an explosion at its primary uranium enrichment facility in Natanz, hampering the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

It wasn’t the first time that Israel had sought to derail the nuclear ambitions of a Middle Eastern rival it feared was on track to build weapons of mass destruction. In the spring of 1981, Israeli intelligence revealed that Iraq was secretly developing nuclear weapons, for which the Osirak nuclear plant was a key component. The facility, located outside of Baghdad, was being built with assistance from France and Italy.

The power station was on track to be operational by September 1981, and could soon after produce enriched uranium and weapons-grade plutonium. Israel wasn’t alone in fearing what that meant, but it opted to ensure that the program was derailed.

The actual mission almost seems in hindsight a bit like the plot of “Top Gun: Maverick,” but it was a deadly serious and very real operation.

Enter Operation Opera

Disabling the plant wasn’t going to be easy, and in the era before the Internet, a cyber-attack likely wasn’t even possible. Instead, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) developed a plan—codenamed Operation Opera—to strike the facility from the air. The issue was that Baghdad was more than 1,100 km (685 miles) from the closest Israeli air base.

However, the Jewish state had recently acquired the American-built F-15 Eagle and F-16 Fighting Falcon jet fighters. Each was quickly deemed suitable to carry out the long-range mission. Meticulous preparation was made that included selecting the best pilots, who flew rehearsals against full-scale mockups of the facility.

The pilots received a briefing from General Rafael Eitan, the Israel Defense Forces’ chief-of-staff, who told the aviators bluntly that it was vital for them to succeed, as “the alternative is our destruction.”

On Sunday, June 6, 1981, six F-15 Eagles, which provided cover for eight F-16 Fighting Falcons, each armed with two 1,000 kg (2,205 pound) bombs, took off from Etzion Air Base. The aircraft flew low-level across unpopulated stretches of Jordan and Saudi Arabia, reaching the target eighty minutes later.

The F-16 Fighting Falcons quickly acquired the distinctive dome shape of the Osirak reactor and began the attack. Though the details remained unconfirmed, it has been reported that all sixteen bombs hit the target—with just one failing to detonate. It was only after the strike that Iraqi air defenses responded, but by that point, the IAF fighters were already heading home.

The attack was met with anger throughout the Arab world—although there was also much relief and even satisfaction that Baghdad had suffered a significant setback. More importantly, the attack showed the world that the IAF had the means and will to strike deep into the heart of a perceived threat.

There have also been reports that King Hussein of Jordan, who was aboard his yacht in the Gulf of Aqaba, saw the fighters as they headed eastward to begin their assault. As Hussein was a pilot, he quickly surmised their mission and attempted to alert Iraq. However, his warning failed to reach anyone with the power to respond. Another version of the story alleges that Israeli intelligence intercepted the call!

Iran Better Watch Out!

It was not the last time that the IAF would disable a nuclear program, as it destroyed Syria’s then-under-construction nuclear reactor in 2007.

And it may not be the last. There has been much speculation that as Iran’s nuclear program moves forward, the IAF could launch another strike—one that could employ the F-35I Adir, the Israeli-variant of the Lockheed Martin Lightning II.

The Jerusalem Post reported that distance would be the greatest issue again, but added multiple routes could be taken—including over Syria and Turkey, while others Israeli fighters could fly through Saudi airspace, possibly with “quiet agreement or opposition.”

The F-35s would likely be employed to destroy the Islamic Republic’s air defenses and then allow for F-15s and F-16s—as well as F-35s operating in “beast mode”—to strike the nuclear facilities located at Fordow and Natanz. The manned aircraft could be further supported by surface-to-surface ballistic missiles and unmanned aerial systems (UAS) or loitering munitions.

The Israeli paper did warn that such an attack would likely be costly, however, and that Iran could succeed in shooting down some of the attacking aircraft. To date, Israel has lost only a single F-16 in combat, and no F-15s or F-35s. Yet, the Islamic Republic may already see that an attack is now a matter of “when” and not “if,” and is likely preparing for the day when Israel strikes.

About the Author: Peter Suciu 

Peter Suciu is a Michigan-based writer. He has contributed to more than four dozen magazines, newspapers, and websites with over 3,200 published pieces over a twenty-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a Contributing Writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: Editor@nationalinterest.org.

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