US Reveals F-35 Jet Role Strikes on Iran Nuclear Sites

By Ryan Chan

China News Reporter

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The United States has disclosed details of its airstrikes on Iran's nuclear sites in June, revealing how F-35 stealth jets "kicked down the door" to carry out the bombings.

Newsweek has contacted Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs via email for comment.

Why It Matters

Details of Operation Midnight Hammer, the code name for the U.S. military mission to bomb three Iranian nuclear sites—Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan—were partly revealed by the Pentagon immediately after the strikes, including how seven B-2 stealth bombers precisely dropped Massive Ordnance Penetrator bombs on the underground targets.

The disclosure of F-35 jets' role in the Iran mission comes as the U.S. has deployed all three variants of the advanced aircraft near China, which has built a sophisticated anti-access and area denial network aimed at keeping U.S. forces out of the western Pacific. Such challenges would require American stealth aircraft to penetrate China's defenses.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

What To Know

The 388th Fighter Wing, a U.S. Air Force unit at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, said on Monday that it and the 419th Fighter Wing recently completed what it described as a "historic" F-35A fighter jet deployment to the Middle East that commenced in March.

Among all three F-35 variants, the A model, designed to operate from conventional runways, is the most common. The B model can land vertically and take off from very short distances, while the C model is explicitly built for aircraft carrier operations.

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The highlight of the deployment was Operation Midnight Hammer on June 22, in which the jets detected and destroyed enemy air defenses—a mission also called "kicking down the door"—using their stealth, radar, sensors and targeting systems.

"We employed weapons to great effect against multiple surface-to-air missile sites," said Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Osborne, commander of the 34th Fighter Squadron under the 388th Fighter Wing, adding that the jets flew hundreds of miles into Iran.

The commander said Iranian air defense forces tried to hit the F-35A jets with "very high-end systems" but were unable to do so after being suppressed. "It was cool to see the jet detect and defeat things—to watch it do exactly what it was designed to do."

In addition to clearing the way for other aircraft to enter Iran, including B-2 bombers and F-22 stealth jets, the F-35A force escorted the bombers through the mission and covered their exit, making the 388th Fighter Wing's pilots the last to leave Iran.

"The effectiveness of this strike validated all of the capabilities of the F-35 we've been talking about for years," said Colonel Charles Fallon, commander of the 388th Fighter Wing, referring to the jet's stealth, lethality, sensor fusion and being a force-multiplier.

Sensor fusion is the ability to collect, collate and share data from the jet's sensors and merge it into relevant information, giving pilots an integrated, intuitive view of their surroundings known as battlespace awareness, according to the F-35 program's website.

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While the F-35A jets were never fired upon and safely returned to an undisclosed base in the Middle East, the unit had to prepare for any retaliation from Iran, Osborne said.

The commander said the situation was "wild" as they dispersed aircraft and personnel, expected ballistic missile attacks, and prepared for casualties and medical evacuations.

Iran did retaliate for the airstrikes, launching short- and medium-range ballistic missiles at Al Udeid Air Base, a key U.S. military facility in Qatar, on June 23. A Pentagon official told Newsweek at the time that there were no reports of U.S. casualties.

What People Are Saying

U.S. Air Force Colonel Charles Fallon, commander of the 388th Fighter Wing, said: "The strike package depended on our pilots and this aircraft to perform, and both proved more than capable. We are necessary components for today's fight and tomorrow's fight, wherever that may be."

U.S. Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Osborne, commander of the 34th Fighter Squadron, said: "[F-35] is the world's finest combat machine. And the more capability we can get, the more lethal we are going to be. It's the best one in the world, by far. It is the most reliable. It is the one most likely to bring you home."

What Happens Next

It remains to be seen how the U.S. military will improve the capabilities of its F-35 fleet using lessons learned from Operation Midnight Hammer. Maintaining U.S. air superiority over the western Pacific will be crucial in any potential conflict with China.

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