There has been extensive strategic planning regarding the possibility of Israel conducting strikes against Iran’s nuclear weapons programme. One scenario that has been considered involves the Israeli Air Force (IAF) launching coordinated attacks with stealth fighter jets.
Several squadrons of F-35 aircraft could fly along separate routes to hit targets across Iran, some over 1,200 miles from Israel. Some jets may take a route along the Syria-Turkey border and cross Iraq, despite opposition from those countries. Others could fly through Saudi airspace, though it is unclear if that would be with tacit agreement or condemnation.
The primary objective would be eliminating Iran’s integrated air defense network at dozens of nuclear sites through carefully selected targets. This system is far more advanced than those of Hamas, Hezbollah or other adversaries. Both F-35s and Israel’s F-15 Eagles and F-16 Falcons could participate, some armed with 5,000-pound bombs to penetrate deeply underground facilities.
Additional waves may target Iran’s foremost nuclear installations, such as the hardened Fordow facility buried 80 metres deep. While the US has refused to provide Israel bunker-busting bombs of this size, repeated strikes could disrupt power, block entrances and isolate targets internationally.
Such an operation would not be without risk. Aircraft could be lost to Iranian defences or fuel issues, though Israel’s loss rate in previous campaigns has been very low. Special forces in Iran may also face dangers. Other targets like the heavy water reactor at Arak and uranium conversion plant at Isfahan could also be prioritized, though seen as less pressing than weaponisation sites.
By mid-2023, reports indicated the IAF had formed a new unit focused solely on intelligence collection to comprehensively map Iranian military infrastructure beyond just nuclear targets, such as Revolutionary Guard Corps power sources. However, Israel may choose not to conduct such extensive attacks, and would weigh the need to maintain allied support. On the other hand, the threat of retaliation has lessened following recent events, changing strategic calculations.
