Air Warfare, Global
Israeli F-35s parked on the runway. (Israeli MoD)
JERUSALEM — Israel announced today that it will acquire 25 additional F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, with a price tag of approximately $3 billion, which will be paid for by American military aid funding.
The new jets will comprise a third squadron for Israel, where the F-35 is known as the Adir. Jerusalem already has placed orders for 50 F-35s, with 36 operational; the first F-35s arrived in 2016 and saw combat for the first time in 2018.
An Israel Ministry of Defense spokesperson said in a statement that Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant approved the recommendation to acquire the third squadron, based on a proposal of IDF Chief of the General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi, the Director General of the Israel Ministry of Defense Maj. Gen. (Res.) Eyal Zamir, and Commander of the Israeli Air Force Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar.
According to the ministry statement, the Israeli Ministry of Defense’s mission in the USA will issue an official letter of request (LOR) to the F-35 Lightning II Joint Program Office (JPO). “This step will facilitate the approval and signing of the transaction in the coming months,” the ministry’s statement said.
“As part of the original agreement between the governments, the aircraft’s manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, and the engine manufacturer, Pratt and Whitney, have committed to involving Israeli defense industries in the production of aircraft components sold,” the Ministry said. “This new agreement will ensure the continuation of cooperation between American companies and Israeli defense industries in the production of aircraft parts.”
Joshua (Shiki) Shani, Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin Israel, said the company is “proud to support the Israeli Defense Forces in providing the F-35, and honored that the Israeli government has announced its intent to purchase additional F-35s.”
The F-35 includes technology that is connected to Israeli companies, such as the helmet made by a joint venture between Elbit Systems and Rockwell Collins; and F-35 wings made by IAI. In 2022 IAI said it was scheduled to produce a total of 811 pairs of F-35A wings by 2034, deals worth around $2 billion.
Discussions regarding the purchase of a third squadron of F-35s go back several years. Israel’s air force has also sought to modernize its tanker fleet by acquiring the KC-46A refuelers and also has purchased new CH-53K helicopters. Israel also operates F-16s and F-15s. A significant amount of Israel’s purchasing power is funded through the American Foreign Military Financing (FMF) program, where Washington send funds to partner nations to help them buy American-made weapons.
