The Israeli government has approved the purchase of two U.S.-built fighter jet squadrons for the Israeli air force.
The acquisition, announced Sunday by the Israeli Defense Ministry, will add a second F-15IA squadron from Boeing and a fourth F-35 squadron from Lockheed Martin. A squadron consists of 12 to 25 aircraft.
The total cost could be upwards of $8 billion and would include spare parts and logistics support, officials said.
The new squadrons are expected to serve as a cornerstone of the Israel Defense Forces’ long-term force development by addressing evolving regional threats and preserving the country’s strategic air superiority, officials said.
Israel’s air force has been an indispensable partner in the U.S. war against Iran. Its fighter jets were reportedly involved in the precision strike that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other Iranian officials during a meeting in Tehran.
“The lessons of that campaign require us to keep pressing forward on force buildup, to ensure air superiority for decades to come,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said in a statement. “The F-35 and F-15IA acquisitions are central to the ‘Shield of Israel’ plan, which is designed to give the [Israel Defense Forces] a lasting qualitative edge.”
