Strategic Assessment

Does the IDF really need the F-35, its high cost notwithstanding? To tackle this question, the essay first identifies the F-35’s unique features as a fifth generation fighter jet. It then examines the operational need for the F-35 through the prism of the Israel Air Force, specifically, the aircraft’s ability to complete missions successfully in today’s reality. The premise is that the ability to achieve aerial superiority is a key to effective use of the airpower, but the growing strength of Israel’s enemies poses a central challenge to what once seemed assured: the IAF’s achievement of aerial superiority. The essay clarifies whether the F-35 can provide a solution to the problem and whether a sufficient response might be provided by other alternatives.