Israeli airstrike in Yemen: F‑35I Adir targets Houthi infrastructure
Israel conducted a retaliatory attack on the port of Hodeidah in Yemen last night using F-35I Adir aircraft. The target was the Houthi energy and fuel infrastructure. Here's what Israel used.
Israel has frequently carried out bombing attacks, such as in Lebanon against Hezbollah, so a similar move after the Houthi drone attack in Tel Aviv was certain. It was only a matter of when, and it appears that the attack was carried out on the night of July 19-20, 2024.
Israel reportedly used its latest F-35I Adir aircraft in the attack. Due to the distance of about 1,240 miles one way, the aircraft had to be refueled in the air, most likely by USAF flying tankers. This method, relying solely on internal tanks, allowed the aircraft to fly undetected through the airspace of other Arab countries located between Israel and Yemen.
F-35I Adir — the best aircraft in the possession of the Israeli Air Force (IAF) and the only such F-35 in the world
The Israeli F-35I Adir is a unique version of the F-35 aircraft. It is significantly more expensive than the base variant used by the USA and other NATO countries. Israel even has its test version of the aircraft with an open architecture that allows for independent integration of new equipment or weaponry elements.
The Israeli version has different avionics from the American version, provided by the Elbit corporation, and can utilize a very interesting local range of weaponry. A good example is the SPICE (Smart, Precise Impact, Cost-Effective) gliding bombs produced by Rafael.
These bombs are conceptually similar to the U.S. JDAM-ER but are closer to the French AASM Hammer, except Israeli bombs do not have a rocket booster. Instead, they add a module with foldable wings, control surfaces, and guidance to standard Mk 82/83/84 bombs weighing approximately 500, 1000, and 2000 lbs.
Like French bombs, the guidance warhead is interchangeable. It includes a classic combination of inertial navigation and satellite guidance or an optoelectronic warhead that sees the thermal image of the target, allowing for hit accuracy even against moving objects up to one meter. The range of the bombs, depending on the drop altitude and weight, is between 37 and 78 miles.
All of this has given Israel a surgical scalpel, allowing for pinpoint attacks anywhere in the Middle East, which would not be feasible with older types of aircraft.
