In June 2025, the world witnessed a dramatic 12-day armed conflict between Israel and Iran — a war that would prove, beyond any doubt, that fifth-generation stealth fighters have fundamentally changed the nature of aerial warfare. At the center of Israel’s air campaign was the F-35I Adir, the Israeli variant of the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.
Operation Rising Lion: Stealth in Action
When Israel launched Operation Rising Lion on June 13, 2025, the F-35I Adir played a critical role in the opening strikes. Israeli jets penetrated deep into Iranian airspace to hit more than a dozen targets, including nuclear facilities at Natanz, Isfahan, and the Arak Nuclear Complex. The strikes required flying over 1,600 km — a mission that demanded stealth, precision, and mid-air refueling.
The F-35I’s low-observable stealth design allowed Israeli pilots to evade Iran’s extensive air defense network, which included Russian-made S-300 systems and domestically produced Bavar-373 batteries. While earlier Israeli strikes in October 2024 had targeted air defenses first to clear a path, the June 2025 campaign saw F-35s operating more boldly, relying on their stealth characteristics to avoid detection.
Sensor Fusion: The F-35’s Secret Weapon
Beyond stealth, the F-35’s most valuable contribution was its sensor fusion capability. The aircraft’s AN/APG-81 radar, Distributed Aperture System (DAS), and Electro-Optical Targeting System (EOTS) provided Israeli commanders with an unprecedented picture of the battlespace.
During the conflict, F-35s served as airborne command nodes, sharing targeting data with other aircraft, naval vessels, and ground-based missile defense systems like Iron Dome and David’s Sling. This network-centric approach was essential during Iran’s retaliatory strikes under “Operation True Promise III,” when hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones were launched toward Israel.
Bunker Busting at Natanz
One of the most significant strikes of the war targeted the Natanz Pilot Fuel Enrichment Plant (PFEP), a multi-story underground enrichment facility housing thousands of advanced gas centrifuges producing 60% enriched uranium. Satellite imagery later revealed at least three explosive impacts on the facility.
The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) assessed that the damage was likely caused by GBU-31(V)3 JDAM or GBU-28 bunker buster bombs — weapons compatible with the F-35’s internal weapons bay. The precision required to hit hardened underground targets while evading air defenses highlights exactly why the F-35 was indispensable in this operation.
Iran’s Air Force: Outclassed
The technological gap between the two air forces was stark. Iran’s air fleet, consisting of aging F-14A Tomcats (originally purchased from the U.S. in the 1970s) and F-5E Tiger IIs, stood virtually no chance against fifth-generation opponents. During the conflict, Israel destroyed at least 5 F-14As and 2 F-5Es on the ground, along with 8 AH-1J attack helicopters and a KC-707 tanker aircraft.
Iran’s air defenses managed to put up resistance, but the combination of Israeli stealth aircraft, electronic warfare capabilities, and overwhelming precision firepower proved too much. Over 200 ballistic missile launchers and 120 surface-to-air missile launchers were destroyed during the 12-day campaign.
The American Dimension
The conflict also saw the United States enter the war on June 22 with “Operation Midnight Hammer,” using B-2 Spirit stealth bombers to strike three Iranian nuclear facilities. The synergy between American B-2s and Israeli F-35s demonstrated the power of allied stealth operations, with both platforms sharing intelligence and coordinating strikes in real-time.
Lessons for the Future
The Twelve-Day War offered several key takeaways for military aviation:
- Stealth is no longer optional — Any future conflict against a near-peer adversary requires low-observable aircraft to penetrate modern air defenses.
- Sensor fusion wins wars — The F-35’s ability to act as a networked sensor platform was arguably more important than its weapons delivery capability.
- Legacy fighters are obsolete — Iran’s F-14s and F-5s were liabilities, not assets. Nations still operating fourth-generation fighters face a severe disadvantage.
- Precision over volume — Israel achieved strategic objectives with targeted strikes rather than carpet bombing, minimizing collateral damage while maximizing effect.
The F-35I Adir proved that it is not just an expensive piece of hardware — it is a war-winning weapon system that combines stealth, sensors, and strike capability into a single platform. The Twelve-Day War will be studied by military strategists for decades as the moment fifth-generation air power came of age.