Israel will procure two additional squadrons of F-35I and F-15IA fighter jets from the United States, drawing on lessons from the recent war with Iran, the Defense Ministry announced on Sunday, May 3. Over the weekend, the Ministerial Committee on Procurement approved a fourth F-35I squadron from Lockheed Martin and a second F-15IA squadron from Boeing. The deals are valued at tens of billions of shekels and form the first major step in a 350 billion shekel (about $119 billion) long-term military buildup plan.
Currently, Israel operates 48 F-35I jets, with another 25 ordered in 2023 and expected to begin arriving in 2028; the new approval will eventually bring the fleet to 100. Israel ordered 25 F-15IA jets in 2024, with first deliveries projected for 2031, and the second squadron will double that figure to 50. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the recent campaign once again demonstrated the central role of the Israeli Air Force in protecting the country, and that the lessons of that war require continued investment to ensure air superiority for decades to come.
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