Over the days, Israel intensified its attacks on the Gaza Strip, with some isolated offensives in the West Bank as well. Since the Hamas forces started fighting, the Hebrew army has increased its attacks on Gaza, especially by air. While awaiting the announced invasion, Israel is hitting dozens of Hamas military targets every day.
According to data compiled by the Global Fire Power website, Israel ranks 18th among the world’s largest military powers, a list led by the United States, Russia, China and India. Within air power, the Hebrew nation is in 11th place, with more than 600 aircraft of all types, especially fighter jets (up to third) and helicopters.
But its air power depends, in particular, on a prominent ally: the United States. Most of the combat aircraft that fly in the sky above Israel with the Israeli Air Force (IAF) at the controls from the North American country. The Warpower Israel portal details the models used in the Hebrew nation, as well as their novelty: new acquisition, modern, old and almost obsolete. The example with the most units is the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a multipurpose aircraft “capable of carrying out air-to-air and air-to-ground attacks with equivalent lethality ,” the website explained.
Germany, Italy and France, are also present
Next in number of units is also the American F-15 Eagle (84 units), a veteran of the Cold War with a strong response for attack and defense. The F-15 Eagle Strike (25 units) and the fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II (39) complete the US fighter arsenal, representing “the most modern attack aircraft of the IAF, capable of launching guided munitions with precision and land attack missiles. . The planes carry bombs with the JDAM system, which has a screwed kit that allows them to be guided.
As for other foreign aircraft that Israel has, the only ones in the fighter category are the Italian Leonardo M346 (Lavi) (about thirty units), with training and light attack function. France provided seven AS565 Panther helicopters (for search and rescue missions), while Germany provided 16 units of Grob 120 two-seat aircraft, intended for military training and acrobatics.
