The Israeli Defence Ministry stated on Sunday that it will proceed with the purchase of a new squadron of US-made F-35 stealth fighter fighters in a USD 3 billion contract. The addition of 25 F-35s from Maryland-based Lockheed Martin would raise Israel’s stealth aircraft force to 75.
25 Lockheed Martin F-35s for Israel
On the suggestion of Israeli Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Herzi Halevi, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant approved the acquisition. Israeli officials will send an official procurement request to the American F-35 Directorate, and the deal will be finalised in the coming months. Pratt & Whitney, based in Connecticut, is another US company engaged in the production of the plane’s engines. According to the Defence Ministry, the planes are being paid for with US military aid.
In 2016, Israel and the United States inked a 10-year $38 billion Memorandum of Understanding outlining the basis for US military aid. The assistance is primarily provided through the US Foreign Military Finance (FMF) programme and the US Department of Defense’s contribution to joint project finance, such as missile defence systems.
Lockheed Martin F-35
The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II is a single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole combat aircraft designed for air superiority and strike operations. It can also conduct electronic warfare as well as intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. Lockheed Martin is the primary F-35 contractor, alongside Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems as significant partners. The F-35A is a conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) aircraft, the F-35B is a short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) aircraft, and the F-35C is a carrier-based (CV/CATOBAR) aircraft.
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