The plane that came back from the dead and stunned the world

“One man’s trash is another man’s diamond.” This old proverb found new life in Operation Rising Lion, when a refurbished F-15, nicknamed the “Man of Steel”, stunned the US military by being among the first planes to attack Iran’s nuclear and missile facilities. Once destined for the scrapyard, this one time American fighter jet was reborn through the grit and ingenuity of Israel’s Air Force technicians-both conscripted and reserve forces, directly affecting all of the Israeli Air Force’s moves, and the outcome of the war.

The story begins over seven years ago, when the US Air Force handed over seven aging F-15s to Israel. Built in the late 1970s, these aircraft had logged tens of thousands of flight hours and participated in numerous American military operations. Four arrived by air, three by sea, and all were intended to be dismantled for spare parts,never to fly again.

After the planes arrived in Israel, the Air Force decided to thoroughly inspect the "junk." The planes were taken to the hangars of Maintenance Unit 212 at Tel Nof Air Base. This is the main and largest garage for the Air Force's planes and helicopters. Known as the “fighter jet’s hospital,” this is the place where every plane receives thorough and comprehensive overhauls every few years. This is also where, time after time, engineers, technicians, and crews manage to save damaged planes.

What they discovered of the seven American jets was astonishing: the aircraft bodies were structurally sound, free of fractures or cracks.

“We realized the planes could be used,” recalls Warrant Officer S. “We opened a special line to ‘blue’ them, to convert them into Israeli aircraft.” Though externally identical to their American counterparts, Israeli F-15s are packed with unique technologies, requiring over 600 modifications per plane.

“The first planes that went into service were dismantled down to their individual wires. That’s hundreds of mechanical and electronic components. Work on each aircraft takes about two years,” said S., dubbed the “father and mother” of the project. He knows every screw, every cable, knows where every component is located and personally inspected every plane before they were cleared for ten test flights.

On the 11th flight, one of these reborn jets, the “Man of Steel”, embarked on its most critical mission: a deep strike inside Iranian territory.

All seven refurbished F-15s are two-seaters, making them invaluable for the IAF. As tensions rose a few months prior to the war with Iran, Air Force headquarters closely tracked the refurbishment progress. “They kept asking when the plane would be ready,” said S. “They really monitored the progress of the work. We understood that we needed the plane to be ready urgently, we didn’t know why, but we worked around the clock.”

S., who’s been with the unit since ninth grade, is known for his emotional connection to the aircraft. “Every time a plane starts its engines, he stops everything to watch,” says his commander, Major B. That passion is contagious—when a plane is towed to the runway for its test flight, dozens of unit members follow in a convoy, cheering.

S. is a large man with a tough and rugged appearance. The 45 years old Rehovot resident and has been here since he was in the ninth grade at the Air Force Aviation School.  "Every time a plane pulls up on the runway and starts the engines, you will see S. stop everything and watch with a smile on his face as the plane takes off from the runway," says his commander, Major B. That passion is contagious, and he infects all of his subordinates with it.

"When we finish refurbishing an aircraft, and it’s ready for its test flight, you’ll see a convoy of dozens of vehicles trailing behind as the plane is towed to the runway. All the unit members are sitting in those vehicles, eagerly accompanying the aircraft toward its defining moment: the moment it lifts off for its test flight," says S, adding that "even after operating 40 or 50 aircraft over the course of your career, the thrill remains the same every single time the plane prepares for takeoff."

According to the Air Force, S. and his team are experts in fully disassembling and reassembling both the "Baz" and "Ra'am" F-15 aircraft. Every ten years, after an aircraft has logged 10,000 flight hours, it undergoes extensive long-term maintenance that can last anywhere from several months to two years.

During this process, the aircraft is stripped down to its fuselage. Every component and wire is replaced, the engine is rebuilt and refurbished, and essentially every part of the plane is renewed. This same procedure was carried out on two aircraft that arrived from the United States, and the team is currently working on a third. A fourth aircraft is scheduled to enter the maintenance cycle soon.

The price of a new F-15EX aircraft, of which the Air Force is currently seeking to purchase several squadrons, is estimated at more than $100 million. However, the availability of supplies is projected to be delayed by at least two years. Refurbishing and building the seven aircraft will be significantly more cost-effective,  and each is expected to serve in the Israeli Air Force for more than a decade.

Uniquely, the Israeli Air Force is the only air force in the world that restores aircraft damaged in accidents or, as in this case, those that have reached the end of their service life. For example, in the coming days, one of the first three F-15s to arrive in Israel back in 1976 will roll out of the Tel Nof hangar. This aircraft holds a special place in history—not only was it the first of its model to arrive in Israel, but its arrival also inadvertently led to the fall of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin’s first government. The ceremony celebrating its arrival extended into Shabbat, sparking outrage among ultra-Orthodox parties, prompting Rabin’s resignation.

One of the three aircraft underwent a thorough renovation over the past year and was successfully reassembled.

“What’s special about our unit is that 18-year-old soldiers work side by side with seasoned personnel and civilian IDF employees, some of whom served in the conscripts and career officers and those who continue their service as civilians well into their 60s. They bring with them a wealth of experience in aircraft maintenance,” says Major B.

“You’ll find three generations working together here, a grandson and a grandfather, all in a great atmosphere,” he adds proudly.

A few years ago, an F-15 was hit by a bird that entered the engine. Although the pilot managed to land the plane, its rear section was severely damaged. The unit inspected the plane and determined that it was possible to "transplant" the entire rear section of the damaged plane from an identical F-15 that had been taken out of service.

The soldiers in the unit hold deep admiration for the F-15s. They approach the formidable aircraft with reverence. “First of all, it’s a beautiful plane. It’s the king of the skies. There’s no other aircraft with this kind of power,” said S.

Major B., who joined the garage a few months ago. He spent most of his career in the F-16 technical division, but he quickly came to understand the respect the F-15 commands. “I’ve always been an F-16 guy and used to say the F-15 was basically a flying truck. That was until I got here and saw the sheer power of its rear section, which is like the size of a football field, and the cockpit which feels like a family living room. That’s when I understood why it’s called the King of the Sky.”

Returning to the operation in Iran: Less than two weeks before Operation Rising Lion was carried out, Staff Sergeant S. and his crew announced that the “Man of Steel” aircraft was ready. It was the second plane they had prepared in under two years. The first, named “Iron Sword,” was completed just days after October 7.

The Air Force conducted a series of test flights over several days, and after the tenth flight, the aircraft was declared operational. In a moment few could have imagined, this 50-year-old plane was nearly deployed for a mission in one of the most distant and strategically significant arenas Israel has ever operated in.

Major A. was the pilot who flew the "Man of Steel" during the attack on Iran, accompanied by navigator Lt. Col. Y. "The plane arrived just before the start of the operation, but it feels and looks brand new," he says. "I had no concerns about flying such an aircraft. On every mission, you place complete trust in the technical team and the AMU (Air Maintenance Unit), knowing they’ll only clear a plane that’s fully safe to fly. When you're aware that key components have been replaced, your senses are heightened."

Just like the technical staff, the pilots regard this aircraft with deep respect and awe. "I grew up in Squadron 106, served as a deputy commander in another squadron, and ultimately returned to 106, not only for the people and the strong sense of family, but also because of the aircraft itself. It's a plane with a legacy," says Major A.

Every pilot in the fighter jet formation shares a unique bond with the aircraft. Before each major mission, it's tradition for the pilot to hold a personal ceremony with the aircraft. "Everyone has their own pre-flight ritual," he adds. "I touch the aircraft, especially the tip of the nose, and give it a little pinch. After the flight, you head straight to the technical crew with a huge smile, because it’s thanks to them that you flew safely. The aircraft never lets you down. It performs like every other jet in the squadron, only it looks newer."

Navigator Lt. Col. Y. expressed his confidence in the aircraft's ability to execute the complex mission in Iran.

"I'm a reservist and I’ve been flying these planes since 2000. If the ground crew and technicians say the plane is ready, I trust them completely. But, it’s a very complex story. Flying in the IAF is quite different from flying in the US. Many of the systems vary significantly, making the F-15 an entirely different aircraft. It requires a long, meticulous process and tremendous effort. When they told me it was ready, I was thrilled. I didn’t hesitate for a moment, I trusted them completely."

According to Lt. Col. Y., the refurbished aircraft proved to be a pleasant surprise, not only during the initial attack, but also in subsequent missions in Iran and Yemen.

"It flew flawlessly, without a single issue. Flights like these are charged with emotion. I’ve been preparing for this moment since I first enlisted and joined the squadron. The pinnacle was the war with Iran, alongside all the operations and efforts in the other theaters,” he said.

"I’m one of the few reservists in the squadron who still serves as a combat navigator, and I also work on planning strike operations on Iran at headquarters, so I’ve seen this mission from both sides," continued Lt. Col. Y. "I’ve been involved in this for 15 years as a reservist, and I was fortunate to contribute to both the planning and the execution. Many team members either fly or plan, but rarely both. I was lucky enough to do both."

"Preparations are extensive, and right up until the last moment, you’re never certain it will actually happen. But that’s our role in the military, to prepare relentlessly, as if war is inevitable. You have to block out the noise and focus on readiness, and in the end, it did happen."

He noted that the refurbished aircraft played a key role in the war planning. "Every plane matters, but this one was especially important because it’s a two-seater. Tremendous effort went into bringing it back. On long-range missions, that configuration makes a real difference."