The initial response from Israel to the Hamas attacks on October 7 was to deploy the air force to bomb Gaza. The air force was given a lengthy list of potential targets, whether they were directly related to the attacks or not. The intention was to demonstrate to both Israelis and Palestinians that Israel was not weakened and could respond swiftly, decisively, and ruthlessly.
Initially, Israel provided reports on the number of air strikes it conducted. However, realizing that admitting to bombing Gaza thousands of times would have negative public relations implications, they shifted their approach to reporting the number of “targets” hit. The most recent figure, released about a week ago, claimed that 12,000 targets were attacked. Without specific details on how they were targeted and with what means, this number doesn’t provide much information.
However, a lot can be inferred from the total number of bombs used. Palestinian officials reported this week that 18,000 tonnes of bombs have been dropped on Gaza. The extent of destruction on the ground aligns with this figure.
Almost all of the dropped bombs belong to the United States-designed Mk80 family, which has been in service since the Vietnam War. Originally designed as conventional free-fall weapons or “dumb bombs,” they have been continuously upgraded with advanced targeting devices, transforming them into “smart bombs.” These bombs come in various sizes, categorized by the total weight of the weapon: 120kg (265lb), 250kg (551lb), 500kg (1,102lb), and 1,000kg (2,204lb).
The Israeli air force primarily utilizes three types of fixed-wing aircraft, all of which are made in the US. The F-15 fighter jet’s primary role is to establish aerial superiority, although some can also be used as bombers. Israel has ordered 75 of the latest F-35 fighter-bombers and has received approximately 40 thus far. While these jets are likely not being used to bomb Gaza, they patrol the skies to counter any threats. This week, a video was released showing an F-35 shooting down a Houthi cruise missile launched at Israel from Yemen.
The F-16, an old and proven aircraft, serves as the workhorse of the Gaza bombing campaign. Israel has developed a modified version of this fighter jet to align with its tactics, featuring a second crew member whose main responsibility is to control precision weapons. Approximately 100 F-16s are in service. Although each aircraft can carry 7 tonnes, for practical purposes, it can be assumed that every F-16 takes off with four bombs.
Article from www.aljazeera.com