Israel has approved a plan to acquire two new combat squadrons of F-35 Lightning II and F-15IA aircraft from Lockheed Martin and Boeing in a deal worth tens of billions of dollars, the defence ministry said on Sunday.
The deal, worth tens of billions of dollars, involves aircraft from Lockheed Martin and Boeing, and was approved by Israel’s Ministerial Committee on Procurement as part of a wider 350 billion shekel ($119 billion) plan to bolster military capabilities and “strengthen readiness ahead of a demanding decade for Israeli security.”
Under the agreement, Israel will purchase a fourth F-35 squadron and a second F-15IA squadron, with the new aircraft expected to serve as a cornerstone of long-term force development aimed at countering regional threats and maintaining strategic air superiority.
“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,” said ministry director general Amir Baram, referring to the Israel Defense Forces.
Defence Minister Israel Katz said the Iran conflict demonstrated the air force’s decisive role in national security. “The lessons of that campaign require us to keep pressing forward on force buildup, to ensure air superiority for decades to come,” he said.
The new aircraft would mark a technological leap, enabling integration of autonomous flight capabilities, next-generation defence systems and expanded operational reach.
