JURESALEM, May 3 : Post the lessons learned from its recent war with Iran, Israel is set to procure two more squadrons of F-35I and F-15IA fighter jets from the US, to further boost its airpower, said the Israeli Defence Ministry.
Over the weekend, a defence procurement committee made up of senior ministers approved a ministry plan to acquire a fourth F-35I squadron from Lockheed Martin, and a second F-15IA squadron from Boeing, in deals that are valued at tens of billions of shekels, the defence ministry said in a statement, reports Times Of Israel.
As per Jerusalem, the newly purchased batch of fighter jets “will serve as a cornerstone of the IDF’s long-term force development, addressing evolving regional threats and preserving Israel’s strategic air superiority.”
Following the committee’s approval, Defence Ministry director general Amir Baram instructed the ministry’s mission to Washington to greenlight the agreements reached with US government and “military counterparts in the coming period.”
The aircraft would eventually bring the Israeli Air Force’s F-35I fleet to 100 and F-15IA – the Israeli variant of the advanced F-15EX – fleet to 50 in the coming years.
Currently, the IAF’s inventory consists of 48 F-35I jets, following an initial order of 50. Another 25 F-35s were ordered in 2023, which are expected to be delivered starting in 2028.
Israel ordered 25 F-15IA jets in 2024, and the first are expected to be delivered starting in 2031.
In a statement, Defence Minister Israel Katz said that the recent war in Iran “once again demonstrated the Israeli Air Force’s power and its decisive role in protecting Israel.”
“The lessons of that campaign require us to keep pressing forward on force buildup, to ensure air superiority for decades to come,” he said.
As per Baram “alongside immediate wartime procurement needs, we have a responsibility to act now to secure the IDF’s military edge ten years from now and beyond.”
“Operation Roaring Lion reinforced just how critical the US-Israel strategic relationship is, and how essential advanced air power remains,” he said, referring to the recent 40-day joint conflict with US against Iran.
(UNI_
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