Israel to purchase extra F-35 fighter jets from US. Deal expands fleet by 50% and deepens partnership

Israel will purchase 25 F-35 plane from the United States, the Israeli Defense Ministry introduced Sunday, in a deal that will increase Israel’s arsenal of the stealth fighter jets by 50%.

The F-35 is the world’s most superior fighter jet, and Israel is the one nation within the Middle East to fly them. The $3 billion buy, which will increase the Israeli fleet of F-35 jets from 50 to 75, is ready to be finalized within the coming months, the ministry mentioned.

It mentioned the deal can be financed by way of American navy help to Israel and that the maker of the airplane, Lockheed Martin, and the maker of its engine, Pratt & Whitney, had dedicated to involving Israeli corporations within the manufacturing course of.

“The new agreement will ensure the continuation of cooperation between American companies and Israeli defense industries in the production of aircraft parts,” the assertion learn.

The transfer to increase the Israeli arsenal comes at a time of heightened tensions between Israel and Iran. Israel, which considers Iran its best enemy, has beforehand used F-35 jets to shoot down Iranian drones, and has threatened to hold out a long-range strike on Iranian nuclear targets.

Israel accuses Iran of attempting to develop a nuclear weapon – a cost Iran denies – and is believed to be behind a string of assaults on Iranian nuclear consultants and services inside Iran over time.