Israel’s interest in the F-15 fighter jet continues with the forthcoming acquisition of the F-15IA, an upgraded version of the F-15EX Eagle II.
In keeping with its tradition of modifying American aircraft to meet its strategic requirements, Israel will upgrade the new F-15IA with enhanced electronic warfare capabilities, improved situational awareness, and strong long-range strike potential. These enhancements are deemed essential to address the threats posed by Iran and its regional allies.
While the US has already approved the purchase, concerns remain that it might initiate an arms race in the Middle East, with other nations seeking to acquire comparable capabilities.
An anecdote shared by a veteran of US covert operations, with whom I have had the privilege of being acquainted for many years, highlights the connection between Israel and American warplanes. This veteran recalls assisting in the delivery of F-16s to Israel in the 1970s, then the most advanced fighter jets globally. F-16s represented a point of pride for American pilots and intelligence operatives.
F-15EX
After a night flight, the aircraft landed at an Israeli base in the desert. Tired, the pilots hoped to rest for a few hours before returning to the United States later that day. However, what struck my friend was how, immediately after officially receiving the planes, Israeli Air Force technicians began dismantling parts of the F-16s.
My friend recalls making a sarcastic remark as he watched the Israelis carelessly remove expensive cockpit systems. To his astonishment, one of the Israeli technicians responded, “You Americans have too many toys! We don’t need all this.” After removing unnecessary equipment, the Israelis proceeded to make further modifications to tailor the planes to the specific requirements of the Israeli Air Force and Israel’s geostrategic context.
This same customization process has been applied by Israel to all the aircraft it receives from the United States, including both the F-35 and F-15.
Israel strengthens its arsenal with the powerful F-15IA to face threats
F-15I
Israel has a deep affinity for the F-15, an American-made fighter jet. This iconic aircraft has been in continuous service with the Israeli Air Force since its introduction in 1976. Similar to other US-made aircraft like the F-16I Sufa and F-35I, Israel is acquiring an exceptional war machine.
In some instances, such as with the F-35I, it can be argued that the Israeli versions of these aircraft, originally manufactured in the United States, have capabilities that surpass other variants and may even outperform the American models.
Amid a complex geostrategic landscape, the United States and its allies are compelled to reassess their military capabilities significantly. The high costs associated with developing new systems from the ground up have led to the upgrading of older, yet still effective platforms.
The F-15EX Eagle II stands as a prime example of this trend, where an older platform is significantly enhanced. This fighter is classified as a fourth-generation plus aircraft. Essentially, the F-15EX merges a fourth-generation design and structure with advanced systems from a fifth-generation fighter, creating a hybrid that incorporates the best aspects of both generations.
F-15EX
Despite facing criticism, the F-15EX Eagle II remains a powerful fighter aircraft, and Israel is justified in desiring it in their fleet.
The Israeli Air Force has operated the F-15I Ra’am since 1976. With increasing dangers, particularly from the threats posed by Iran and its terrorist allies, Israel deemed it necessary to invest in upgrading this combat-proven platform.
The F-15IA: Israel’s new weapon against Iranian threats with advanced capabilities
The F-15IA, Israel’s latest acquisition, comes equipped with an impressive array of electronic warfare capabilities. Featuring the Eagle Passive Active Warning System (EPAWSS), this aircraft can operate in challenging electronic environments. In a potential confrontation between Israel and Iran, Iranian forces are likely to attempt to disrupt the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum to neutralize Israeli weapons platforms. Nonetheless, the F-15IA is theoretically designed to counter such jammers with the help of the EPAWSS and other advanced electronic warfare systems.
This Israeli fighter will be armed with various air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. Additionally, its cockpit will provide improved situational awareness and feature advanced automation—characteristics typical of fifth-generation fighter jets like the F-35. Like other American-made Israeli fighters, the F-15IA will be highly compatible with US military systems.
F-15EX
The arrival of the F-15IA enables the Israeli Air Force (IAF) to significantly enhance its long-range strike capability. This improvement in strike capability bolsters Israel’s deterrence, a key goal its leaders aim to reestablish since October 7. This capability also provides Israel with more concrete options for executing strikes against distant targets in Iran.
Washington’s approval of this acquisition demonstrates that the United States remains committed to its alliance with Israel, despite existing tensions in the bilateral relationship. However, the introduction of the F-15IA might encourage other regional powers to pursue similar capabilities, whether through the United States or Russia, potentially sparking a new arms race in the region.
Israel’s fascination with the F-15 fighter jet remains alive with the upcoming acquisition of the F-15IA, an advanced version of the F-15EX Eagle II.
True to its custom of adapting American aircraft to its strategic needs, Israel will equip the new F-15IA with enhanced electronic warfare capabilities, greater situational awareness, and a robust potential for long-range strikes. These upgrades are considered crucial to confront the threats posed by Iran and its allies in the region.
Although the US has already given the green light for the purchase, there are concerns that it could trigger an arms race in the Middle East, with other powers looking to equip themselves with similar capabilities.
An anecdote told by a veteran of US covert operations, whom I have had the honour of knowing for many years, illustrates the relationship between Israel and American warplanes. This veteran recalls how, in the 1970s, he helped fly F-16s, then the most advanced in the world, into Israel. F-16s were a source of pride for American pilots and intelligence agents.
After a night flight, the planes landed at an Israeli base in the desert. Exhausted, the pilots hoped to rest for a few hours before returning to the United States later that day. What surprised my friend, however, was how immediately after officially receiving the planes, Israeli Air Force technicians got to work dismantling parts of the F-16s.
My friend recalls making a sarcastic comment as he watched the Israelis so carelessly remove expensive cockpit systems. To his amazement, one of the Israeli technicians replied, “You Americans have too many toys! We don’t need all this.” After removing unnecessary equipment, the Israelis began making further modifications to make the planes fit the specific requirements of the Israeli Air Force and Israel’s geostrategic reality.
This same customization process has been applied by Israel to all the aircraft it receives from the United States, including both the F-35 and F-15.
Israel strengthens its arsenal with the powerful F-15IA to face threats
Israel has a strong affinity for the F-15, a fighter jet of American origin. This iconic fighter has been in continuous service with the Israeli Air Force since its introduction in 1976. As with other US-made aircraft such as the F-16I Sufa and F-35I, Israel is acquiring an exceptional war machine.
In some cases, such as with the F-35I, it could be argued that the Israeli versions of these aircraft, originally built in the United States, have superior capabilities to other variants, and could even outperform the American versions.
In an increasingly complex geostrategic landscape, the United States and its allies are forced to significantly reassess their military capabilities. The high cost of developing new systems from scratch has led to the upgrading of older, but still effective, platforms.
The F-15EX Eagle II is a prime example of this trend, where an older platform is taken and drastically improved. This fighter is described as a fourth-generation plus fighter aircraft. In other words, the F-15EX combines a fourth-generation design and structure with advanced systems from a fifth-generation fighter aircraft, making it a hybrid that brings together the best of both generations.
Although the F-15EX Eagle II has its critics, it remains a formidable fighter aircraft, and the Israelis rightly want it in their fleet.
The Israeli Air Force has been using the F-15I Ra’am since 1976. Faced with increasing danger, especially from the threat posed by Iran and its terrorist allies, Israel decided it was necessary to invest in an upgrade of this combat-proven platform.
The F-15IA: Israel’s new weapon against Iranian threats with advanced capabilities
The F-15IA, Israel’s newest acquisition, is equipped with a powerful set of electronic warfare capabilities. Thanks to the Eagle Passive Active Warning System (EPAWSS), this aircraft is capable of operating in conflictual electronic environments. In the event of a confrontation between Israel and Iran, Iranian forces are likely to attempt to degrade the electromagnetic (EM) spectrum to neutralize Israeli weapons platforms. However, the F-15IA, at least in theory, is designed to overcome these jammers with the help of the EPAWSS and other advanced electronic warfare systems.
This Israeli fighter will be armed with a variety of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. In addition, its cockpit will provide enhanced situational awareness and feature advanced automation, features typical of fifth-generation fighter jets such as the F-35. Like other American-made Israeli fighter jets, the F-15IA will be highly interoperable with US military systems.
With the arrival of the F-15IA, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) is significantly increasing its long-range strike capability. This increase in strike capability strengthens Israel’s deterrence, a priority its leaders have sought to reestablish since October 7. This capability also gives Israel more concrete options for conducting strikes against distant targets in Iran.
Washington’s approval of this purchase shows that the United States remains committed to its alliance with Israel, despite the tensions in the bilateral relationship. However, the introduction of the F-15IA could motivate other regional powers to seek similar capabilities, either through the United States or Russia, potentially triggering a new arms race in the region.
Benefits of the F-15IA for Israel
- Enhanced Air Superiority: The F-15IA will help maintain Israel’s air dominance against adversaries.
- Long-Range Strike Capability: Its upgraded systems will enable strikes on distant targets, enhancing deterrence.
- Advanced Electronic Warfare: The EPAWSS will allow operations in heavily contested electronic environments.
- Interoperability: Seamless integration with US military technology and systems improves effectiveness.
- Customizable Platform: Israel’s tradition of modifying systems ensures optimal performance tailored to specific threats.
Case Study: Advanced Fighter Jets in the Middle East
| Country | Fighter Jet | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Israel | F-15IA | Long-range, advanced electronic warfare, customizable |
| Saudi Arabia | Typhoon | Multi-role capability, advanced avionics |
| Iran | Su-30MKA | Long-range, multi-role, modernized |
