Iran is certain to notice the American-Israeli collaboration over Middle Eastern skies.
The U.S. and Israeli Air Forces carried out a joint exercise over the Mediterranean earlier this week, marking the most significant collaboration between the two aerial branches since Hamas’ October 7, 2023, massacre. Dozens of fighter platforms, including the Israeli F-35I and F-15I, flew alongside the American B-52 strategic bomber.
As detailed by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), “The exercise aimed to strengthen and maintain the longstanding cooperation between the forces while expanding connectivity and building integrated capabilities for a range of scenarios.” While not specified, it is suspected that the joint drill was intended to practice a strike by the Israeli Air Force (and perhaps the United States) against Iran. At the least, the American-Israeli collaboration in the skies should serve as a warning to Tehran that the IDF has regional backing against the regime and its proxies.
Introducing the U.S. B-52
The American-made B-52 “Stratofortress” may be old, but the mighty strategic bomber could serve well into the mid-twenty-first century based on continued upgrades to the platform. Capable of carrying both conventional and nuclear ordnance, the B-52 remains a critical pillar of America’s nuclear triad of deterrence. Upgrades to the bomber over the years include the incorporation of the APG-79B4 radar, which is virtually identical to the export version of the Navy’s F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jet with the array turned upside down. Additionally, the B-52 is being revamped to be able to carry the newest J-Series bombs, which will facilitate the storage of several new Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) and other weapons systems.
Introducing the Israeli F-15I
Israel’s specially modified variant of the American-made F-15 Eagle serves as the Israeli Air Force’s (IAF) long-range strike fighter. Even with more modern fighter platforms like the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter in its mix, Israel relies on its “Ra’am” series to carry out targets deep within adversarial territories. From the platform’s Elbit display and sight helmet system to its Hughes APG-70 synthetic aperture radar, the F-15I is equipped with top-notch capabilities. However, the Ra’am’s range of 2,700 miles makes it the platform of choice when the IAF needs to fly longer missions without aerial refueling.
Introducing the Israeli F-35I
While all airframes in the IAF arsenal contribute to the air service’s combat power, the F-35I “Adir” certainly takes the cake as the most capable fighter. Israel’s one-of-a-kind fighter is a uniquely modified version of the American-made Lightning II. Incorporating a range of homegrown technologies, the Adir was specially developed in order to fulfill Israel’s security needs. From its superior armament power to its advanced digital architecture, the Adir remains truly unparalleled when it comes to other jets in the region.
Considering the ramp-up in Iran’s hostile activities throughout the Middle East, a potential escalation on the kinetic front is not out of the question. It appears Israel, along with American backing, is gearing up for such a scenario.
About the Author: Maya Carlin
Maya Carlin, National Security Writer with The National Interest, is an analyst with the Center for Security Policy and a former Anna Sobol Levy Fellow at IDC Herzliya in Israel. She has by-lines in many publications, including The National Interest, Jerusalem Post, and Times of Israel. You can follow her on Twitter: @MayaCarlin. Carlin has over 1,000 articles published over the last several years on various defense issues.
Image: Clive117 / Shutterstock.com
