An Israeli Air Force F-15 fighter jet flies during an aerial demonstration. (photo credit: AMIR COHEN – REUTERS)
On October 30, the Israeli Air Force (IAF) announced that its fighters jets escorted an American B-1B supersonic strategic heavy bomber over Israel on its way to the Persian Gulf.
“The joint flight illustrates the continued strategic cooperation of the Israel Defense Forces with the United States in the area,” the Israeli military said on Twitter.
The American bomber was escorted by F-15 fighter jets of the IAF 133 Squadron, the “Knights of The Twin Tail”. The Israeli fighter jets were armed with AIM-7 Sparrow medium-range semi-active radar homing and Python-5 short-range infrared homing air-to-air missiles during the mission.
The Israeli military released several photos and video footage of the unusual escort flight that was an apparent threat to Iran.
— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) October 30, 2021
The B-1B, which has a range of 7,600 km with a load of 16,800 kg, can carry heavy bunker-buster bombs that would be needed for a strike on Iran’s largely underground nuclear facilities. The bomber can also deliver nuclear armed bombs and cruise missile.
Click to see full-size image.
The joint American-Israeli mission was likely meant as a warning to Iran, which will rejoin the talks on its nuclear program next November. While Washington seeks a political solution that would see a return to the 2015 nuclear deal, Tel Aviv continues to threaten Tehran with a military strike.
I hope they get in Iran’s range so we can watch those fags fall into the ocean
An easy target for the S-400 missile defense system. 1300 KM top speed? Even that figure is likely a deception. What a fkn joke.
The Russian Tu-160 has a maximum speed of 2200 KM and exceeds the american design in all parameters.