Israel to buy more F-35 fighter jets from US, expand fleet by 50%
Israel will buy 25 F-35 aircraft from the United States, the Israeli Defense Ministry announced on Sunday, in a deal that increases Israel's arsenal of the stealth fighter jets by 50 per cent.
The F-35 is the world's most advanced fighter jet, and Israel is the only country in the Middle East to fly them. The USD 3 billion purchase, which increases the Israeli fleet of F-35 jets from 50 to 75, is set to be finalized in the coming months, the ministry said.
It said the deal would be financed through American military aid to Israel and that the maker of the plane, Lockheed Martin, and the maker of its engine, Pratt & Whitney, had committed to involving Israeli companies in the production process.
The new agreement will ensure the continuation of cooperation between American companies and Israeli defense industries in the production of aircraft parts, the statement read.
The move to expand the Israeli arsenal comes at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and Iran. Israel, ...