The F-35 Lightning II is hailed as the greatest fighter aircraft in the world, but in its “Beast Mode” setting, it has taken modern airpower to new heights. Beast Mode refers to equipping the F-35 with its maximum internal and external munitions load—up to 22,000 pounds—sacrificing stealth for raw firepower. It’s not about clever tricks with smart tech; it’s an ambitious scheme to revolutionize the way militaries battle for air supremacy and strike their targets.
The F-35, by design, keeps its weapons within to remain difficult to detect on radar, so enemies have trouble seeing it. But when the threat in the sky is minimal, it goes into Beast Mode. By mounting bombs and missiles outside, the jet becomes a powerful war machine, capable of delivering more at once and striking rapidly changing targets. The compromise is obvious: weapons mounted on the outside are more visible. But the benefits are substantial—more firepower, improved move options, and increased time in the air.
Israel has perhaps pushed this concept further than any nation. The Israeli Air Force’s F-35I “Adir” is not another F-35—it’s a bespoke platform to address a uniquely complex regional threat environment. Israel negotiated authorization for the integration of local systems, under which the standard electronic warfare suite would be substituted by Elbit Systems’ cutting-edge capabilities and the addition of plug-and-play compatibility with Israeli sensors and weapons. Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has armed the Adir with Python-5 air-to-air missiles, SPICE precision-guided weapons, and specialized one-ton penetrators, the majority of which can remain stored inside to maintain stealth when necessary.
Israeli F-35Is have accumulated more than 15,000 flight hours since October 2023 and have flown missions over Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, Yemen, and even deep within Iranian territory. There is no other F-35 operator that has had such diverse and advanced scenarios of threat or gained such operational experience.
As reported by the Israeli Air Force, the Adir is the sole F-35 variant that has performed combat missions with external payloads, opening up capabilities long theorized in the laboratory setting. Israel joined forces recently with Lockheed Martin and the Pentagon to quickly certify the carriage of external JDAMs on the F-35I to satisfy critical operational needs. The application of Beast Mode largely depends on the circumstances. In safer environments such as Gaza, where the enemies do not have advanced air defense systems, stealth is secondary and firepower is paramount.
In medium-threat environments such as Lebanon, the aircraft use the Beast Mode sparingly once the radar threats are neutralized or evaded. When confronted with heavily defended areas such as Iran, it’s only feasible after defeating enemy air defenses because the added exposure to radar would place the planes at risk from far-off surface-to-air missiles.
Israel’s doctrine places equal weight on networked operations. F-35I operates as an advanced sensor node, gathering intelligence, sharing real-time data with F-15I “Ra’am” strike aircraft, and managing complex multi-platform missions. F-35Is conducted SEAD missions in the recent campaigns to take out enemy air defenses, with F-15Is then providing larger payloads. Combined action doubles the capacity of both platforms, enabling long-range strikes at less risk.
Strategic implications are far-reaching. Israel’s introduction of the F-35I remapped regional power, with the capability to effectively deter Iranian nuclear facilities and facilitate proactive missions to counteract rising threats.
The proven capability of the Adir to breach sophisticated Russian-produced air defense systems—via confirmed destruction of S-300 radars—ignites a capability in growing international visibility. Pentagon leaders are taking close interest in Israeli operations for insights into maintaining prolonged combat in contested air, as well as interoperability of allied technologies.
In the future, Beast Mode has more potential. Upgrades in the computer will allow for the addition of new missiles, including the Stormbreaker tri-mode seeker bomb and longer standoff range Israeli-made weapons. Options can include the addition of more air-to-air missiles beyond the aircraft to counter drones and cruise missiles, or the addition of conformal fuel tanks and drop tanks to extend operational range without refueling.
In the end, Beast Mode is not a gimmick—it’s a game-changer revolutionizing air-to-air combat. Israel employs the F-35I Adir in this mode in a revolutionary manner, with stealth, firepower, and networked intelligence setting new standards for fifth-generation fighters and shaping the future of military aviation.
