By the time Iranian operators realized their networks were under coordinated assault the missile batteries were destroyed.
By Hezy Laing
During the Twelve‑Day War of June 2025, the Israeli Air Force demonstrated how a carefully orchestrated combination of stealth, electronic warfare, and precision strike capability could dismantle what had been described as some of the most advanced air defense systems in the world.
Iran had invested heavily in layered defenses, deploying highly adcanced Russian‑made S‑300PMU2 batteries alongside its indigenous Bavar‑373 system, supported by radar networks around Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow.
Yet these formidable assets were neutralized in a matter of hours once the IAF’s strike packages went into action.
At the heart of the operation were the F‑35I “Adir” stealth fighters, Israel’s customized variant of the American fifth‑generation jet.
These aircraft flew ahead like unseen pathfinders, sweeping across Iranian skies with radar signatures so small they blended into background noise.
Their advanced sensors mapped every radar beam, every missile battery, every electronic threat, transmitting the data back to the formations of F‑15I “Ra’am” and F‑16I “Sufa” fighters that followed.
The older jets, carrying heavy payloads, never had to expose themselves to the lethal envelopes of the S‑300 or Bavar‑373.
Instead, they launched long‑range munitions such as Delilah cruise missiles and SPICE‑guided bombs from standoff distances, ensuring safety while delivering devastating accuracy.
By the time Iranian operators realized their networks were under coordinated assault, command centers were blinded and missile batteries silenced.
The campaign was not limited to manned aircraft.
UAVs and electronic warfare platforms jammed communications, fed false signals into Iranian radars, and created phantom targets.
Mossad operatives had earlier sabotaged elements of Iran’s defense infrastructure, further weakening response times.
Within the first forty‑eight hours, Israel claimed destruction of multiple launchers and radar stations, including those guarding Natanz and Isfahan.
Iran’s retaliatory salvos of more than 550 ballistic missiles and 1,000 drones were largely intercepted by Israel’s Arrow‑3, David’s Sling, and Iron Dome systems, with U.S. Aegis destroyers assisting from the Persian Gulf.
The figures tell the story: Iran suffered over 1,000 fatalities and thousands wounded, while Israel reported just 24 dead.
The technological edge of the IAF, combining stealth reconnaissance with conventional strike power, proved decisive.
The operation underscored how modern air forces can exploit the weaknesses of even the most advanced defenses.
Iran’s layered system was designed to repel traditional raids, but against a networked strike package leveraging invisible scouts, standoff weapons, and electronic deception, it collapsed before a coherent response could be mounted.
The Twelve‑Day War thus became a case study in how airpower, intelligence, and precision can render even the most sophisticated defenses obsolete.
