Stealth Strike Confirmed: U.S. Acknowledges F-35 A Role in Precision Raid on Fordow First Kinetic Action Against Iranian Nuclear Infrastructure
The United States has released new details about its June airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, confirming that F-35 stealth jets played a central role in what defence officials describe as a decisive and highly coordinated operation.
Newsweek has contacted Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.
Why it matters
Operation Midnight Hammer, the code name for the mission targeting Iran’s facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan, was partly outlined by the Pentagon immediately after the strikes. Seven B-2 stealth bombers dropped Massive Ordnance Penetrator munitions on deeply buried targets, but until now the extent of the F-35’s involvement had not been publicly detailed.
The disclosure comes at a time when all three variants of the F-35 have been deployed near China. Beijing has developed a sophisticated anti-access and area denial network designed to keep American forces at distance in the western Pacific. Any future confrontation would require the US to rely on its stealth aircraft to penetrate those defences. China’s Foreign Ministry has not yet responded to requests for comment.
A ‘historic’ deployment
The 388th Fighter Wing, based at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, announced that it and the 419th Fighter Wing had completed what it called a “historic” F-35A deployment to the Middle East. The deployment began in March and included the June 22 strikes on Iranian air defence systems.
The F-35A is the most widely used version of the aircraft. The F-35B is designed for short takeoff and vertical landing, while the F-35C is built for operations from aircraft carriers.
According to Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Osborne, commander of the 34th Fighter Squadron, the F-35A force detected and destroyed multiple Iranian surface-to-air missile systems before other aircraft entered Iran. This phase of the mission, known as “kicking down the door”, used the jet’s full suite of stealth, sensors and targeting tools.
“We employed weapons to great effect against multiple surface-to-air missile sites,” Osborne said. He confirmed that the jets penetrated hundreds of miles into Iranian territory and that Iranian forces attempted to engage them with advanced air defence systems. “It was cool to see the jet detect and defeat things, to watch it do exactly what it was designed to do.”
Clearing the way for the bombers
Once Iran’s air defences had been neutralised, the F-35A jets escorted B-2 bombers and F-22 fighters during the main strike and covered their withdrawal. The F-35 pilots were the last American aircraft to leave Iranian airspace.
Colonel Charles Fallon, commander of the 388th Fighter Wing, said the operation demonstrated the aircraft’s full capability. “The effectiveness of this strike validated everything we have been saying about the F-35 for years. Its stealth, sensor fusion and lethality make it a force-multiplier.”
Sensor fusion refers to the aircraft’s ability to gather and combine information from multiple onboard sensors and present pilots with a single, integrated view of the battlespace.
Although none of the jets were hit and all returned safely to a base in the Middle East, Osborne said his unit prepared for retaliation. Aircraft and personnel were dispersed, missile attacks were expected, and medical teams were placed on standby.
Iran launched short and medium range ballistic missiles at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar the following day. A Pentagon official confirmed there were no American casualties.
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What people are saying
Colonel Charles Fallon 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.”
Lieutenant Colonel Aaron Osborne said: “The F-35 is the world’s finest combat machine. The more capability we can get, the more lethal we will be. It is the most reliable and the one most likely to bring you home.”
What happens next
The US military is expected to assess how lessons from Operation Midnight Hammer can further strengthen the F-35 fleet. Maintaining air superiority in the western Pacific is likely to shape development priorities, particularly in any future confrontation involving China.
