What You Need to Know: The F-16I Sufa is a uniquely modified variant of the F-16 Fighting Falcon, tailored to meet the Israel Air Force’s needs. Delivered starting in 2004, the Sufa features advanced avionics, Israeli-designed conformal fuel tanks for extended range, and enhanced air-to-ground weapons capacity.

-Its Elbit Dash IV helmet-mounted cueing system offers pilots a 360-degree targeting capability, while the electronic warfare suite includes radar warning and jamming systems.

-The F-16I has played a vital role in Israeli operations, including targeting Hamas tunnels in 2021. With ongoing relevance, the Sufa remains a cornerstone of Israel’s air power.

The Israel Defense Forces fly the largest contingent of the F-16 outside of the U.S. Air Force, with more than 300 airframes in their arsenal.

Nicknamed Sufa, or thunderstorm in Hebrew, the two-seat variant of the F-16 – the F-16I Sufa – was specifically designed to meet the requirements of Israel's Air Force.

While the platform has some shortcomings, Israel’s Sufa variant boasts unique........

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