World’s Most Advanced Fighter Jet F-35 Tested in Combat by Israeli Airforce in Syria Operations

The U.S.-made F-35 stealth fighter jet has seen its first ever combat action, flying in an operation for the Israeli air force. Israel recently carried out multiple sorties along with air strikes in Syria.

The revelation of the use of the advanced stealth fighter was made by Israeli Air Force Chief Major General Amikam Norkin who was speaking to visiting heads of Air Force of 20 nations including India’s Air Chief Marshal Birender Singh Dhanoa. He showed an image of jets over Beirut, Lebanon, and said the planes had "already attacked twice on two different fronts". He added, "We are flying the F-35 all over the Middle East and have already attacked twice on two different fronts." He did not specify the targets but said, "You know that we just won the Eurovision with the song 'Toy.' Well, the F-35 is not a toy," he said.

The Israel Defense Forces announced Tuesday on Twitter that its version of the aircraft -- dubbed the F-35 "Adir" -- is already flying in operational missions.

The BBC reports that Israel is the first country outside the U.S. to acquire the single-seat fighter and has received nine of the 50 F-35s it has so far ordered and could take up to 75. In Israel it is referred to by its Hebrew name "Adir" (Mighty). The jets are believed to be the F-35A variant - conventional takeoff and landing.

The F-35 fighter jet is touted as the future of military aviation; a lethal and versatile aircraft that combines stealth capabilities, supersonic speed of upto 1931 km per hour, combat ability of upto 1,093 kilometres, extreme agility and state-of-the-art sensor fusion technology, according to Lockheed Martin, the plane's primary contractor.

However, it has been criticised both for cost and combat effectiveness. Last year, U.S. Defence Secretary James Mattis had to defend the programme after then President-elect Donald Trump tweeted criticising its huge price, said to be close to $100m per plane.

Over the past five decades, Israel has sought to maintain its superiority in the skies over the Middle East. With the escalation of the conflict in Syria, Russia has introduced its latest S-300 and more advanced S-400 surface-to-air missiles systems in Syria -- a challenge to Israel's regional air superiority.

Israel acquired the F-35 in response. The fighter can fly virtually undetected but stealth technology does not guarantee a jet can fly unseen.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on May 23, 2018 10:47 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).