Israel approves plan to buy F-35 and F-15IA fighter jets from Lockheed, Boeing
By Steven Scheer
JERUSALEM, May 3 (Reuters) – Israel has given final approval to a plan to buy two new fleets of F-35 and F-15IA advanced fighter jets from Lockheed Martin and Boeing in a deal worth tens of billions of dollars, the defense ministry said on Sunday.
It was stated that the agreement, approved by Israel’s Procurement Ministerial Committee, was the first step of a 350 billion shekel ($119 billion) plan aimed at strengthening the Israeli army and “strengthening readiness ahead of a challenging decade for Israel’s security”.
He added that the new squadrons will serve as the cornerstone of the army’s long-term force development by addressing regional threats and maintaining Israel’s strategic air superiority.
“Aside from urgent wartime supply needs, we have a responsibility to act now to secure the IDF’s military superiority a decade from now and beyond,” said ministry director general Amir Baram, referring to the Israel Defense Forces.
The recent war with Iran “reinforced how critical the US-Israeli strategic relationship is and how essential advanced air power is,” he added.
Under the agreement, Israel will purchase a fourth F-35 fleet from Lockheed Martin and a second F-15IA fighter jet fleet from Boeing.
In December, Boeing was awarded an $8.6 billion contract for Israel that included 25 new F-15IAs and options for 25 more.
Baram said the next step will be to move towards finalizing agreements with the US government and military counterparts.
The US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran on February 28, but a ceasefire has been in effect since April 8. The US Navy continues to blockade Iranian ports.
Defense Minister Israel Katz said the conflict in Iran demonstrated the power of the air force and its decisive role in protecting Israel.
“The lessons of this campaign require us to continue to advance force generation to ensure air superiority for decades to come,” he said.
Israeli aircraft have also attacked Iranian-backed Hamas militants in Gaza and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon since Hamas’ October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel.
Katz said that the autonomous flight capabilities of the new aircraft will lead to a significant technological leap in the integration of new generation defense systems and in establishing Israel’s military dominance in space.
“Our mission is clear: to ensure that the Israeli Armed Forces have the tools, capabilities and power to operate anywhere, anytime,” Katz said. “We will continue to invest, strengthen, and stay ahead of our enemies to keep Israel safe today and into the future.”
($1 = 2.9384 shekels)
(Reporting by Steven Scheer, Editing by William Maclean)
