F-35 sees combat

[DaveBB]

The Israelis used the F-35 to attack defenses in Syria.

http://www.businessinsider.com/israels-f-35s-saw-combat-in-syrian-air-war-that-hit-russian-defenses-2018-5

[Shuffler]

I read about that at a better site that does not care about my adblocker.

[DaveBB]

I use adblocker too.  Hard to find sites that don't recognize it anymore.

[artik]

More details: https://theaviationist.com/2018/05/24/image-of-israeli-f-35-flying-off-beirut-with-radar-reflectors-as-well-as-more-details-about-the-adirs-first-strikes-emerge/

[Maverick]

When I was being trained about things in Armor (tanks) I attended several briefings most of which were classified at the time. Long since past now due to changes in equipment. One of the things the instructor told us was that the M60's had never been really used in combat, by the US. It was when we gave them to "mikey" the Israeli defense forces that is got the combat baptism it deserved. We found it performed well against it's Soviet counterparts given GOOD training and excellent tactical methodology as well as independent activities at the small unit level. The expected shortcomings were proven (mediocre range penetration of the sabot round on the 105 mm). Effective penetration with one shot kills was confirmed at no more than 1500 meters frontally. Accuracy was up to the task but the round just didn't have the penetration it needed once velocity started to decline.

Looks like "mikey" has once again taken our tools and used them to good effect.

[Gman]

Interesting post Maverick - I remember Eagl saying many equivalent things when he was discussing the IAF, and he also mentioned that the USAF felt that the IAF would really improve on some stuff with their F15s (other stuff too), and get to test it due to their frequent real missions.  And, then, wouldn't shared that data and tested tech back with the US allies who had literally given them their F15s (and other equipment, ammunition, funds, etc), after that.  I can see how that could get really annoying.

Hope that the whole "shared" F35 deal with all the allies, that the IAF if they've improved on anything with their F35 variant, share the wealth.

I'm hoping Canada selects the F35 now, that or go the Gripen route,  our fighter competition is about to start (over again) in just a month or so, the SuperHornet is out due to politics, but the Gripen, F35, Typhoon, Rafale, and an advanced F15 variant (no chance IMO again due to politics, which is a real shame).  A good friend of mine from high school is our test squadron CO right now, and he's already done the complete F35 training down at the center at the ITC at Eglin, and has flown it as well.  He's very much in favor of Canada getting the F35, and he's flown 2500hrs+ in the Hornet with hundreds in combat, the Gripen and Typhoon at Empire test pilot school, the SuperHornet on an exchange in the mid 2000s with the USN, and the F16 as well on a short assignment in the USA again. 

[bozon]

Israel has a long standing tradition of sending new planes into combat within weeks of their arrival. Sometimes days.
The S199 (czech built 109s post WWII) went on an air strike on their 1st day.
IAF B17s bombed Egypt on their trasfer flight to Israel.
F4 phantoms were doing airstrikes within 4 weeks of their arrival, including a new long range record for the IAF. It got its 1st kill (mig21) within 2 months of its arrival.
F16s arrived in the IAF in late 1980. By April 1981 they already had A2A kills (first credited to F16s), and numerous air strikes including the bombing of the Iraqi nuclear reactor.

IAF liked to customize their planes quite a bit and replace a lot of stock equipment with Israeli stuff. One of the great atteactions in the F35s was that it was promised that the IAF with the Israeli industries could install itheir equipment right off the production line, instead of having to dismantle the American equipment and having to do a lot of conversions. Lockheed backed out of that promise.

There is a lof of cooperation and information sharing between IAF and the US airforces. Less so with other "allies" that are not as trusted. Israeli industries tend not to share information as US companies backed by the administration tend to take everything and then block Israeli companies on all foreign markets. The US administration normally does not allow US armed forces to buy Israeli equipment in order to protect the market for US companies. This is why eagl was complaining about their crappy F15 helmets compared to what he saw the Israeli F15s had.

Now regarding the F35s in the IAF publications - I am not happy about it, and this recent trend from out glorious PM to go public with every operation. For 70 years Israel did what it had to do quietly and under the radar as much as possible. These things should have at least 20 years of cool off period before becoming public.

Edit:
Correction, the Iraqi reactor was bomed on June 1981, so exactly 1 year after the arrival of the 1st F16.