Here’s how Israel will expand the F-35 fleet
Israel will purchase more F-35 fighter jets from the United States. Jerusalem has already placed orders for 50 jets, of which 36 are operational. The new order expands the fleet by 50 percent and will result in the creation of a third squadron of F-35s. All the details
Israel still relies on F-35s.
Jerusalem has given the green light to the purchase of 25 F-35 multi-purpose fighters from the United States in a deal worth about three billion dollars. This was announced by the Israeli Defense Ministry in a statement, explaining that Minister Yoav Gallant approved the recommendation proposed by the Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces, General Herzi Halevi, by the Director General of the Ministry, Eyal Zamir, and by the Chief of the Air Force, Tomer Bar.
Produced by Lockheed Martin Corp, the F-35 is the fifth generation JSF fighter that Israel has adopted in the customized "Adir" version. The country is also the only one in the Middle East to fly them. The $3 billion purchase, which brings Israel's fleet of F-35 jets from 50 to 75, is expected to be finalized in the coming months, the ministry said.
The last three F-35i “Adir” stealth fighter-bombers landed just last November at Nevatim Air Base in the Negev . The aircraft became part of the "Golden Eagle" squadron.
All the details.
THE NEW F-35 FOR ISRAEL
The new fleet will bring Israel to 75 combat aircraft overall over the next few years. “This new deal will ensure the continuation of cooperation between US companies and Israeli defense industries in the production of aircraft parts,” Minister Gallant explained, adding that the deal will be financed through the defense aid package Israel receives. from the United States.
Lockheed Martin and engine maker Pratt & Whitney have agreed to involve Israeli defense companies in the production of aircraft components, the Israeli ministry added.
THE COUNTRY'S PARTICIPATION IN THE JSF PROGRAM
Israel was the first country outside the United States to acquire the F-35. In May 2018, its air force chief said Israel was the first to use the aircraft in combat.
The country has agreed to purchase at least 50 F-35 fighter jets from US defense contractor Lockheed Martin. Tel Aviv has received 36 planes so far, and the remaining planes are expected to arrive in batches of two or three through 2024.
Media reports as early as last year revealed that Israel would seek to purchase another 25 aircraft.
COLLABORATION WITH ISRAELI DEFENSE COMPANIES
As Breaking Defense points out, the F-35 includes technology linked to Israeli companies, such as the helmet made by a joint venture between Elbit Systems and Rockwell Collins and F-35 wings made by Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI). In 2022, Iai said it was expected to produce a total of 811 pairs of F-35A wings by 2034, deals worth about $2 billion.
THE GROUNDING OF VARIANT B LAST WINTER
The news comes after Israel grounded 11 F-35 jets after a US fighter crashed.
The Israeli Air Force announced last December that it had decided to follow the American Aircraft Production Administration's recommendation to ground 11 F-35 B-type fighter jets after a crash at a North Texas military base on 16 December, as reported by Times of Israel .
The F-35B is the “short take-off, vertical landing variant” of the F-35, the fifth generation combat aircraft of the Joint Strike Fighter program. Specifically, the Army said it would test 11 of its F-35I jets for a problem similar to the one that apparently caused the crash before being returned to service, following recommendations from the F-35 Joint Program Office. .
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/smartcity/ecco-come-israele-espandera-la-flotta-di-f-35/ on Mon, 03 Jul 2023 10:43:55 +0000.