Tel Aviv: The “Beast Mode” used by the Israeli Air Force (IAF) enabled its F-35 to carry heavy loads during attacks on Iranian targets.
Beast mode shifts the F-35 from stealth-only internal loads to a heavy strike setup using six external hard points. This boosts payload from 5,700 pounds internal to around 18,000-22,000 pounds total, trading radar stealth for ordnance like extra JDAMs or AMRAAMs.
Israel’s Air Force first used beast mode in combat during Middle East operations since late 2023, ahead of all other operators. Developed with Lockheed Martin and the Pentagon, it suits scenarios with degraded enemy defences, like strikes in Gaza, Iran, Yemen, or Lebanon.
After the initial attacks that destroyed almost all Iranian air defences, the IAF used the “Beast Mode” to enable each F-35 to attack a great number of targets.
By using this mode the IAF’s F-35 performed hundreds of strikes in Iran using heavy bombs carried on the hard points.
According to sources, the use of “Beast Mode” multiplied the performance of this stealth aircraft in a “Dramatic” way.
The IAF has made other changes in its F-35. These classified changes, according to sources, resulted in higher performance levels when operating against targets in Iran.
-The writer is an Israel-based freelance journalist. The views expressed are of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Raksha Anirveda
