Why the IDF favors jet attacks over missile volleys

An aircraft can be reused for multiple sorties, whereas a long-range ballistic missile is a single-use weapon that can cost upward of $10 million per launch.

By Hezy Laing

While the IDF possesses a highly advanced military arsenal, its choice to rely on precision airstrikes rather than long-range surface-to-surface missiles against Iran is a calculated strategic and economic decision.

This preference is rooted in the distinct advantages of manned aircraft and the specific nature of the targets they engage.

The primary reason for this doctrine is the superior precision and flexibility offered by the Israeli Air Force.

Unlike a ballistic missile, which follows a predetermined trajectory once launched, a pilot in an F-35 or F-15 can make real-time adjustments based on updated intelligence.

This capability is crucial for “surgical” strikes intended to minimize collateral damage or to abort a mission at the last second if civilians are detected near the target.

Furthermore, aircraft can be reused for multiple sorties, whereas a long-range ballistic missile is a single-use weapon that can cost upward of $10 million per launch.

Strategic depth and target characteristics also play a significant role.

Many of Iran’s most sensitive military and nuclear facilities are buried deep underground or carved into mountains, such as the sites at Natanz and Fordow.

Destroying these requires specialized “bunker-buster” munitions that must be delivered with extreme accuracy and at specific angles—a task far better suited for precision-guided bombs dropped from aircraft than for the blunt kinetic impact of a ballistic missile.

Additionally, Israel’s long-range missile program, notably the Jericho series, is widely viewed by international analysts as a strategic deterrent rather than a conventional battlefield tool.

Launching such a missile could be misinterpreted by regional and global powers as an escalation involving non-conventional warheads, potentially triggering a much larger and more devastating conflict.

By using its air force, Israel maintains its conventional military edge while demonstrating its ability to penetrate even the most sophisticated air defense networks across vast distances.

This approach allows the IDF to degrade Iran’s capabilities while managing the risk of a total regional war.