Israel Purchases 25 More F-35 Stealth Fighters from the U.S.

On Sunday, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced that the government approved the purchase of a third squadron of F-35 stealth fighters in a deal worth three billion dollars. According to Reuters, the Ministry stated that with the acquisition of 25 additional F-35 aircraft, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, the number of F-35 jets in the Israeli Air Force will reach 75. The Ministry noted that the financing for this contract will come from the defense aid package that Israel receives from the United States. Israel is the first country after the United States to be equipped with the F-35. In this regard, in May 2018, the head of the Israeli Air Force stated that Israel was the first country to use this aircraft in combat. The Israeli Ministry mentioned that Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney, the engine manufacturer, agreed to involve Israeli defense companies in the production of aircraft parts. Last June, Israeli media claimed that the Israeli army had upgraded its F-35 stealth fighters to the extent that they can now fly from Israel to Iran and back without the need for aerial refueling. In this context, the Jerusalem Post reported that the Israeli Air Force has developed a new capability for its F-35 stealth fighters to fly from Israel to Iran without in-flight refueling. According to the newspaper, these aircraft can also carry a new one-ton bomb. The commander of CENTCOM praised the combat readiness of the Israeli army. U.S. and Asian allies' fighters took to the skies following North Korea's missile test. Joint U.S.-South Korea exercises; Pyongyang fired four more missiles. Exclusive | CENTCOM to VOA: The flight of bombers is a sign of our commitment to stability in the region.