Israel Approves Purchase of F-35 and F-15IA Fighter Jets

In a new development, Israel has formally approved a plan to acquire advanced fighter jets from American defence manufacturers, with the procurement covering F-35 stealth aircraft from Lockheed Martin and F-15IA variants from Boeing. The approval marks a significant expansion of Israel's air combat capabilities.

The decision, sanctioned at the governmental level, underscores the continued depth of the United States-Israel defence relationship and reflects Israel's drive to modernise its air force inventory amid ongoing regional tensions. The F-35, widely regarded as the most advanced fifth-generation fighter in operational use, would substantially enhance Israeli strike and reconnaissance capabilities.

The F-15IA, a tailored variant of Boeing's proven airframe, offers complementary capabilities including extended range and heavy payload capacity. Together, the two platforms are expected to form the backbone of a reinforced Israeli air fleet over the coming decade.