The Planes behind the Anti-Nuke Strike

The U.S.-supplied F-15I "Ra'am" fighters that carried out the alleged September 6 raid to destroy alleged Syrian nuclear cache were bought with raids on such facilities in mind, according to some reports. One of the keys to the bombers' success? Their APG-70 radars, with ground-mapping capability, plus a whole host of special Israeli mods:

Several modifications had been carried out in the Ra'am, in order to meet Heyl Ha'avir's [the Israeli air force] unique needs and specifications. For instance -- the plane is characterized by greater takeoff weight and flight range than the other F-15 models, and is equipped with unique systems manufactured by Israel's defence industries, including an EW suite designed and built by Elisra specifically for the F-15I. Due to the modifications made in it, the Ra'am is regarded as being the most advanced of the F-15 models. Like the F-15E, it is a tandem seater, with the pilot concentrating on flying the plane and releasing weapons, while the WSO controls the guided munitions from the moment of release until they hit the target.

The Ra'am's advanced systems include an APG-70 radar with terrain mapping capability. The sharp picture that the APG-70 provides, regardless of weather conditions and light, makes it possible to locate targets that are otherwise very hard to find -- i.e. missile batteries, tanks and structures -- even under such adverse conditions as complete fog cover, heavy rain or moonless nights.

To supplement the radar, the Ra'ams boast Sniper targeting pods with infrared and daylight cameras. But even with these sensors, the fighters reportedly needed commandoes on the ground to direct them to their targets. A 2007 Belfer Center study (pdf!) highlights these special forces:

Israel maintains two elite special forces units dedicated to assisting with air strikes: one specialized in laser target designation (Sayeret Shaldag/Unit 5101), the other in real-time bomb damage assessment (Unit 5707). These could potentially infiltrate the target zone prior to attack. The presence of one or both units would enable target designation in bad weather. These units could also assess the damage from those weapons that hit their targets and then direct additional munitions to compensate for misses.

What munitions? Depends on whether the target was underground. If so, penetrating bombs were probably necessary. The study continues:

The [Israeli air force] arsenal includes a 1,000 lb.–class penetrating bomb known as the PB 500A1. Additionally, Israel has sought to acquire two heavier penetrating warheads from the United States. In September 2004, Israel announced that it would purchase approximately 5,000 precision-guided munitions from the United States, including about 500 equipped with the 2,000 lb.–class BLU-109 penetrating warhead. More recently, Israel has received approval to purchase 100 precision-guided munitions equipped with the 5,000 lb.–class BLU-113 penetrating warhead.