Israel's defence ministry approved buying two new fighter squadrons — a fourth F-35 unit from Lockheed Martin and a second F-15IA unit from Boeing — as part of a 350 billion shekel ($119 billion) plan to strengthen the military. Officials said the move will underpin long-term force development, preserve air superiority and reflect lessons from recent Iran-related operations. The ministry will now finalise agreements with U.S. government and military partners.
Israel Approves Purchase of New F-35 and F-15IA Squadrons to Bolster Air Superiority
FILE PHOTO: A F-35 fighter jet flies during a graduation ceremony for Israeli Air Force pilots at Hatzerim Airbase, in southern Israel, June 29, 2023. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo
JERUSALEM, May 3 — Israel's defence ministry has given final approval to acquire two additional combat squadrons of advanced fighter aircraft — a fourth F-35 squadron from Lockheed Martin and a second F-15IA squadron from Boeing — in a procurement move officials say is worth tens of billions of dollars.
The Ministerial Committee on Procurement approved the purchase as the first step in a broader 350 billion shekel (about $119 billion) plan to strengthen Israel's armed forces and "strengthen readiness ahead of a demanding decade for Israeli security," the ministry said.
Strategic Rationale and Next Steps
Defence officials said the new squadrons will form a central pillar of the military’s long-term force-development strategy, designed to address regional threats and preserve Israel’s strategic air superiority. The ministry said the programme balances urgent wartime needs with longer-term investments to ensure the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) maintain a decisive edge over the next decade and beyond.
"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 Amir Baram, director-general of the defence ministry.
Baram added that recent operations involving Iran had reinforced the importance of the U.S.–Israel strategic relationship and the continuing need for advanced air power. He said the next step will be to finalise contracts and coordination with the U.S. government and military counterparts.
Contract Details and Context
Under the approved plan, Israel will add a fourth F-35 squadron from Lockheed Martin and a second F-15IA squadron from Boeing. In December, Boeing received an $8.6 billion contract for Israel that covered 25 new F-15IA jets and included an option for 25 more aircraft.
The ministry said the new platforms will incorporate advanced capabilities, including better integration of autonomous flight features, next-generation defensive systems and enhanced space-related technologies — steps officials say will help preserve Israel’s qualitative military edge.
"The lessons of that campaign require us to keep pressing forward on force buildup, to ensure air superiority for decades to come," Defence Minister Israel Katz said, reflecting on recent regional operations.
Since the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, Israeli aircraft have also struck Iranian-backed Hamas positions in Gaza and Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, and the report said U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28 were followed by a ceasefire on April 8; U.S. naval forces continue to enforce a blockade of certain Iranian ports, the ministry added.
Exchange rate used by the ministry: $1 = 2.9384 shekels.
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