Israel approves plan to buy F-35, F-15IA fighter jets
The defense ministry said it has given final approval to Israel’s 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 deal, approved by Israel’s Procurement Ministerial Committee, is the first step in a 350 billion shekel ($165 billion) plan to strengthen Israel’s military and “strengthen preparedness ahead of a challenging decade for Israel’s security,” the ministry said on Sunday.
He said 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 immediate wartime supply needs, we have a responsibility to act now to secure the IDF’s military superiority 10 years from now and beyond,” said ministry director general Amir Baram, referring to the Israel Defense Forces. he said.
He said the recent war with Iran “reinforces how critical the US-Israeli strategic relationship is and how essential advanced air power is.”
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 a US$8.6 billion ($11.9 billion) contract for Israel, including 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 USA and Israel launched an air strike on Iran on February 28, but a ceasefire has been in effect since April 8.
The US Navy continues the blockade of 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 been attacking Iranian-backed Hamas militants in Gaza and Hezbollah militants in Lebanon since Hamas attacked Israel on October 7, 2023.
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 the establishment of Israeli 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. he said.
“We will continue to invest, strengthen, and stay ahead of our enemies to keep Israel safe today and into the future.”
