During the 12 days of war against Iran, the Israeli Air Force carried out approximately 1,500 operational sorties. According to the IDF website, five main types of fighter jets were responsible for the majority of these missions.
1. F-16C "BARAK"
These veteran jets led the campaign. Despite being the oldest in the fleet, they were upgraded with advanced technological systems tailored to the conditions of “Operation With the Heart of a Lion.”
2. F-35I "ADIR"
Ranked second in usage, the stealthy F-35I was praised for its precision, quiet operations, and ability to carry out complex missions. Iranian sources claimed that several F-35s were shot down during the strikes, but no evidence was presented. Israel called these claims “ridiculous lies.”
3. F-16I "SUFA"/STORM
This multi-role fighter, weighing 13 tons, was fitted with advanced combat systems and radar capable of collecting real-time strike data. It played a key role in the recent attacks.