Israel bolster military edge with new F-35 Adir fighter jets

JERUSALEM – Israel’s air force has strengthened its military capabilities with the arrival of three new F-35 Adir fighter jets at the Nevatim Air Base in the south of the country, the Israeli army announced on Sunday. Observers say the move is part of a broader strategy to maintain Israel’s qualitative military edge in the Middle East, particularly in the air.

In a statement, the Israeli military said: “Today, three new Adir (F-35) aircraft manufactured by Lockheed Martin have landed at Nevatim Air Base and have been marked with the insignia of the Israeli Air Force.”

The statement highlighted that the Adir jets have played an active role since the outbreak of the war in Gaza, carrying out both defensive and offensive missions across multiple fronts.

The delivery comes amid ongoing US military support for Israel, which continued throughout the two-year-long Gaza conflict. This support has drawn international criticism, prompting countries including Spain to impose sanctions, including arms embargoes, against Tel Aviv.

Israel is among the few countries globally to operate the F-35, considered by experts as the most advanced fighter jet in the world. The aircraft is capable of gathering intelligence, striking deep inside enemy territory and participating in aerial combat, giving Israel a strategic advantage in regional conflicts.

Officials in Tel Aviv continue to lobby Washington to preserve this edge, expressing opposition to potential F-35 sales to regional powers such as Turkey and Saudi Arabia, fearing any sale could erode Israel’s air superiority. Under US weapons transfer regulations, all arms sales to Middle Eastern nations are subject to formal assessments on whether they might affect Israel’s “qualitative military edge,” with results reported to Congress.

Former US State Department official Josh Paul noted that this approach could trigger a regional arms race, prompting Arab states to seek alternative suppliers such as France, China, or Russia, potentially reducing American influence in the region.

The Israeli push to maintain air dominance comes amid ongoing efforts to modernise and replenish its military stockpiles, following multiple wars since October 8, 2023. Over the past two years, Israel has conducted a prolonged military campaign in Gaza, engaged in two conflicts with Iran and Lebanon, and carried out periodic airstrikes in Yemen, Syria, and Lebanon.

The country’s long-standing occupation of Palestinian territories and areas in Syria and Lebanon remains a core factor in regional instability. Israel continues to reject Palestinian statehood with East Jerusalem as its capital, maintaining borders largely consistent with those before the 1967 war.