Israel Air Force chief Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin said at a recent conference that the IAF had conducted two air strikes in the Middle East using the country’s variant of the F-35 fighter jet, dubbed “Adir” or “Mighty One.” The missions mark the first time Lockheed Martin‘s stealth aircraft has seen actual combat, Defense News reported Tuesday.
Norkin described his country’s F-35s as “already operational and flying in operational missions.” Late last year, the IAF declared its fleet of F-35s ready for combat operations.
Israel already has an agreement with Lockheed Martin to purchase a total of 50 F-35 units although the Israeli parliament last year urged the country’s ministry of defense to evaluate possible alternatives.
