Key Highlights
- The American F-35 stealth fighters participated in the Operation Midnight Hammer strikes on Iran.
- F-35s flew hundreds of miles into Iranian airspace and were the last ones out after the operation.
- Lt. Col. Aaron Osborne, commander of the 34th Fighter Squadron, shared details about the mission.
- The F-35s escorted B-2 Spirit stealth bombers during the complex nighttime operation.
- No Iranian air defenses fired on American aircraft during Midnight Hammer.
Operation Midnight Hammer: A Detailed Overview of F-35 Participation
During the Operation Midnight Hammer, which took place in late June 2024, American F-35 stealth fighters played a crucial role in striking Iran’s nuclear facilities. The operation marked another significant deployment of these advanced aircraft, highlighting their versatility and combat prowess.
F-35s’ Role in the Operation
The F-35A Lightning II fighter jets, assigned to the Utah-based 388th Fighter Wing, participated alongside B-2 Spirit stealth bombers. The F-35s were tasked with suppressing Iran’s air defenses and clearing a path for other combat aircraft during this complex nighttime operation.
Lt. Col. Aaron Osborne, commander of the 34th Fighter Squadron, shared in a US Air Force story that they flew hundreds of miles into Iranian airspace, escorting the B-2s throughout their mission. “We employed weapons to great effect against multiple surface-to-air missile sites,” he stated.
Operation Details and Results
The B-2 bombers dropped over a dozen heavy bunker-buster bombs, specifically 30,000-pound munitions called GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, on Iran’s nuclear facilities. The F-35s then protected the bombers’ exit from the attack zone and were the last ones out of Iranian airspace after the operation.
According to Col. Charles Fallon, 388th Fighter Wing commander, the F-35s demonstrated their capabilities in this mission. “The effectiveness of this strike validated all of the capabilities of the F-35 we’ve been talking about for years — stealth, lethality, sensor-fusion, being a force multiplier,” he said.
US forces struck three Iranian nuclear facilities—specifically Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan—with 75 precision weapons during Operation Midnight Hammer. The operation came amid a broader war between Iran and Israel, with American officials confirming the use of bunker-busters and Tomahawk cruise missiles in addition to the F-35s and B-2s.
Broader Context
Beyond the F-35s and B-2s, American F-22 fighter jets, as well as F-15s and F-16s, participated in the surprise operation. A US Navy missile submarine also took part in the strikes.
The F-35, built by US defense giant Lockheed Martin, has been battle-tested against a wide range of threats since its first flight nearly 20 years ago. While it is considered one of the top fifth-generation fighter jets globally, it is also the world’s most expensive weapons program with a lifetime cost of $2 trillion and faces sustainability and maintenance challenges.
Despite these challenges, Midnight Hammer commanders praised the F-35, emphasizing its combat prowess in this operation. The success of the mission underscored the importance of advanced stealth technology in modern military operations.
The detailed participation of the F-35s in Operation Midnight Hammer serves as a testament to their capabilities and highlights ongoing efforts to maintain and enhance these cutting-edge aircraft for future missions.
