The Israeli Defense Force (IDF) was formed in May 1948, right after Israel’s Declaration of Independence. And ever since then, Israel has been in constant conflict with Palestine. It is one of the longest-standing conflicts in the world. The October attack by Hamas, killing over 1,000 civilians and military personnel, led Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to declare a state of war and unleash the Israeli military. (These are the 25 largest air forces on Earth.)
So far, the IDF has mobilized infantry and tanks, but its greatest strength has always been its air superiority.
Here, 24/7 Wall St. is taking a closer look at Israel’s military aircraft. To identify every attack helicopter and fighter jet in the Israeli Air Force, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed active military aircraft data from FlightGlobal, an annual military aviation publication. We ordered the aircraft alphabetically and included supplemental data from the Military Factory regarding the type of aircraft, year introduced, classification, active number of aircraft, country of origin, manufacturer, top speed, and armament.
The IDF primarily uses the F-16I Sufa, a fairly versatile fighter jet introduced in 2004 with roughly 175 in active service. The F-16I can reach speeds near Mach 2 and carries various weapons, including missiles and guided munitions.
The IDF also uses helicopters like the AH-64 Apache, AS565 Panther, and UH-60 Black Hawk. These helicopters are equipped with machine guns, and some can equip Hellfire missiles or Hydra rocket pods. (These countries have the most Apache attack helicopters.)
Here is a look at every aircraft in Israel’s military:
Why Are We Covering This?
Israel’s Air Force is a cornerstone of its national defense, while also allowing it to project power within the region. These aircraft also serve in surveillance and reconnaissance roles which are vital for gathering intelligence, preventing emerging threats and planning future operations.