Israel conducted a series of very precise air attacks deep within Iranian borders in June 2025, destroying several of Iran’s remaining F-14 Tomcat fighter jets. The raid, code-named “Operation Rising Lion” by the Israel Defense Forces, was not just another episode in the ongoing shadow war between the two nations—rather, it was a display of modern airpower, technological magic, and signaling. The raid, Israeli officials reported, involved both drones and possibly F-35I Adir stealth fighter jets, which entered Iranian airspace to strike airfields outside Isfahan and Tehran. Infrared footage by the IDF showed F-14s catching fire on the runway, a movie shot that emphasized Israel’s ability to incapacitate high-value targets without direct attack.
The F-14 Tomcat is legendary, a vehicle that will always be associated with U.S. naval aviation and popular culture as a whole. Iran bought 79 of the planes before the 1979 revolution, the only nation other than the United States to have ever had them in the air. After the revolution, embargoes and sanctions left Iran struggling to keep the fleet running, forced down to using cannibalized parts and jury-rigged patches.
All this aside, the Tomcat reigned supreme in the Iranian air defense for decades, cherished for its long-range radar and Phoenix missiles. By 2025 estimates, a mere 20 to 24 of the F-14s remained airworthy, with the remainder on the ground or cannibalized. The destruction of even a few of these valuable aircraft was a blow not only to Iran’s military capability but also to the national pride of Iran.
Operation Rising Lion demonstrated the strength of combining stealth, precision, and electronic warfare. Israeli F-35I low radar cross-section fighter aircraft with advanced sensors likely played a significant role in penetrating Iran’s S-300 air defenses. Precision-guided munitions ensured the F-14s were destroyed with minimal collateral damage, while unmanned systems like IAI Harop and Hermes 900 unmanned systems provided real-time targeting and, in some cases, conducted strikes independently.
These unmanned systems, equipped with electro-optical sensors and electronic countermeasures, bypassed defense systems and captured the strikes, and further reinforced Israel’s psychological and strategic message.
For Iran, the destruction of the F-14s is both symbolic and strategic. The F-14s were among the only planes to have the capability to challenge Israel’s air superiority, and their destruction reveals the extent of Iran’s decrepit air force, which has endured decades of sanctions and an ad hoc regime of maintenance issues. Efforts to modernize with Russian Su-35s and a longer drone and missile program have yet to close the gap. The F-14s, once a badge of national pride, now symbolize Iran’s attempt to stay ahead of fast-emerging foes.
The attacks also demonstrate a larger shift in air warfare as drones and precision-guided munitions redefine what dominance in the air entails. As seen in Ukraine, inexpensive, small drones can be employed for reconnaissance, targeting, and even direct strike, collapsing the kill chain and enabling rapid, precise strikes. Israel’s parallel incorporation of drones with manned stealth fighter aircraft follows this trend, bringing together persistent watch with the capability to strike deep into hostile territory while keeping personnel at risk to a minimum.
Iran’s air defenses were shown to be highly vulnerable despite possessing advanced systems like the S-300. Lack of coordination, antiquated radar, and low coverage in central regions allowed Israeli aircraft and drones to operate with near-total impunity. Electronic warfare and low-observable flight procedures further exploited these weaknesses, highlighting the importance of integrative technology, stealth, and tactics in modern air operations.
The geopolitical and strategic ramifications extend far beyond Iranian runways. Iranian politicians condemned the raids as acts of aggression against sovereignty and threatened retaliation, though the reaction so far comprised mainly drone strikes brought down by Israeli defenses. The United States contributed intelligence and missile defense aid short of formal engagement. Regional players observed nervously, apprehensive of escalation and attuned to the exposure of key infrastructure, while markets reacted to higher war risk.
Ultimately, the Israelis’ destruction of the F-14s gives us a preview of the future of aerial warfare. The exercise underlines the growing necessity of incorporating manned stealth aircraft, drones, precision-guided munitions, and electronic warfare to develop dominance in contested airspace. While drones are reshaping the battlefield, they still have not replaced human pilots, whose adaptability, expertise, and thinking remain in demand.
Actual air warfare innovation can be located in the fusion of manned and unmanned capabilities into a combined hybrid solution that leverages the strengths of each. Israel’s attacks on Iran’s F-14s are a stunning illustration of this new way, one set to drive military strategy and airpower planning for years to come, from the Middle East to elsewhere in the world, facing new air threats.