By Terry Lloyd
I recall serving in the U.S. Air Force during the first Persian Gulf War and witnessing the loss of over 40 coalition aircraft, with double that number suffering battle damage, during the air campaign against Iraq in January and February 1991. The aircraft lost or damaged ranged from Vietnam-era models to the latest versions of the F-15E and Tornado fighter-bombers. While these loss rates were “better” than anticipated, they were shocking nonetheless. The impact was somewhat softened by the relatively low crew casualties—only six U.S. personnel killed in action and one missing in action.
The one exception was the U.S. F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter, which did not sustain a single loss or even battle damage. From that point forward, it became clear that only aircraft with stealth capability could reasonably survive contested airspace. The replacement for the F-15, the F-22 Raptor, was already in development, and in 1995 the F-35 Lightning II program began as the replacement for the F-16 and most other ground-attack aircraft.
Fast forward to today: the key to the Israeli Air Force’s (IAF) unprecedented victory in its recent air campaign against the Islamic Republic of Iran was the innovative use of the F-35I Adir (“The Mighty One”), which completely neutralized Iran’s entire air defense network.
Iran’s anti-aircraft system—anchored by advanced Russian S-300 and S-400 surface-to-air missile batteries—was widely considered one of the most dangerous in the world. Notably, NATO member Türkiye once attempted to acquire both the U.S.-produced F-35 and the Russian S-300, a move the United States blocked out of concern that operating both systems together would provide Russia with valuable insights into how to defeat the F-35.
Once Israel received its F-35I Adir fleet, unconfirmed reports emerged of clandestine missions penetrating Iranian airspace undetected. In 2018, Adirs struck Iranian missile and air defense sites following rocket fire at Israel. At the same time, the U.S. Air Force, operating across Syria and elsewhere in the Middle East, employed its F-22 Raptors’ stealth sensors to locate Iranian and proxy-controlled air defense and missile launch sites. This intelligence enabled older fourth-generation fighters such as the F-15 and F-16 to conduct successful strikes—a strategy soon nicknamed “quarterbacking.” A variation of these tactics helped the IAF, the U.S., and allied air forces repel the waves of Iranian ballistic missile and drone barrages directed at Israel in late 2024.
Building on these tactics, the IAF made the bold decision to attempt the wholesale destruction of Iran’s air defense network. Remarkably, this was accomplished without a single Israeli aircraft loss. According to credible though unverified reports, Adirs directly attacked Iran’s most sophisticated missile batteries and command centers, while simultaneously enabling fourth-generation Israeli aircraft to strike effectively. With Iran’s air defenses neutralized, the IAF unleashed its full offensive capability against ballistic missile and drone facilities, nuclear weapons research sites, and command infrastructure.
This cleared the path for follow-on U.S. Air Force operations. American B-2 Spirit stealth bombers—equipped with deep-penetrating bunker busters—struck Iran’s most hardened nuclear facilities. These missions, supported by Israeli and American fighters, were likewise conducted without losses.
Preliminary after-action analysis suggests the emergence of a new operational doctrine: unobservable stealth fighters such as the F-35 and F-22 can render the Russian S-300 and S-400 systems largely ineffective. The development recalls the 1973 Yom Kippur War, when the IAF, at great cost, devised tactics to overcome the then state-of-the-art Soviet SA-5 and SA-6 systems. Today, the degradation of Russia’s most advanced defenses in Iran has not gone unnoticed by Moscow—or by countries relying on Russian-made systems. In future conflicts, the S-300 and S-400 can no longer be considered reliable air defense shields against fifth-generation aircraft.
Once again, Israel has proven to be a critical partner in exposing the weaknesses of Russia’s latest air defense technologies, rapidly altering both tactical doctrine and the broader strategic landscape.
In addition to its offensive achievements, Israel has also been central to developing the Iron Dome missile defense system, now an indispensable shield for both military and civilian populations. Lessons learned from Israeli battlefields continue to refine Iron Dome, with the potential to expand its role into defending North America and other regions against intercontinental ballistic missiles.
