An Israel F-35I Adir Has Fought in “Beast Mode” for the First Time
An F-35 in “beast mode” can lug an extra 22,000 pounds of internal and external weapons.
The American-made F-35 Lightning II platform is perhaps the most coveted fifth-generation platform in service today. Equipped with the latest and greatest sensors, radar, and avionics, the formidable aircraft is virtually unmatched in terms of capability. Israel possesses a one-of-a-kind F-35 variant. Dubbed the “Mighty One,” the F-35I features a range of Israeli-made systems and avionics that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) requires to fulfill its unique defense needs.
Notably, Israel’s fleet of F-35s has beaten its American counterparts to deploying in combat, achieving an aerial kill, and most recently using “beast mode” in combat. According to the Israeli Air Force (IAF), “The Israeli ‘Adir’ aircraft is the only aircraft in the world that has carried out operational strikes with an external armament configuration, which increased the attack capabilities. “ While in its stealth configuration, the F-35 is capable of carrying 5,700 pounds of internal ordnance. However, the fighter can convert to “beast mode” once air dominance is established, giving it the ability to lug an extra 22,000 pounds of internal and external weapons. Lockheed Martin, the platform’s manufacturer, has stated that the F-35 can carry two AMRAAMs, six JDAMS, and two Sidewinders when in its beast mode configuration.
Israel becoming the first nation that flies the Lightning II to utilize its heavier loads positioned on underwing pylons makes sense, considering that it has been at war since the Gaza-based Hamas terror group launched its October 8, 2023, massacre. According to Israeli officials, the Air Force’s fleet of F-35Is has flown more than 15,000 operational hours, including thousands of sorties “in all theatres. “
Back in 2018, the Israeli F-35I fleet also became the first to ever see combat action. Israeli Lightning IIs were used to strike Iranian-linked assets and military infrastructure in Syria, showcasing the platform’s lethality in combat. Three years later in March 2021, Israel revealed that its Lightning II jets completed their first aerial engagements when they were dispatched to take down a pair of Iranian unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) that were approaching Israeli territory. According to the IDF, the drones were equipped with firearms and were headed to the Gaza Strip, where they likely would have ended up in Hamas’ hands if not intercepted.
What Special Features Does the F-35I Feature?
When Israel first acquired the F-35, it became the first nation outside of the Joint Strike Fighter co-development group to receive a specially modified variant. The Israeli Lightning II variant is equipped with a homegrown electronic warfare system. Domestic manufacturers designed the countermeasures and sensors that are featured in the platform, in addition to helmet-mounted displays and other data-gathering and processing capabilities. The IAF has certainly put its Adir fleet to good use over the last year and a half in its campaign to take out Hamas in Gaza and protect Israel’s borders from hostile barrages.
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.
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