The Israel Ministry of Defense last weekend said it will order 25 more F-35 fighters from the U.S. government, which will add a third squadron of “Adir” F-35 units to the Israel Defense Forces.
The deal is worth about $3 billion.
Israel previously ordered 50 F-35As, which are built by Lockheed Martin [LMT]. Israel received its first aircraft in 2016 and inaugurated its second squadron in 2020. The Times of Israel reported this week that as of November 2022, 36 F-35i fighters had been delivered.
“The Israeli air force has proven its capabilities in critical operations with the 116 and 140 Squadrons, and we are looking forward to building on this strong performance,” Joshua Shani, Israel chief executive for Lockheed Martin, said in a statement. “With a combination of stealth, sensor fusion, and electronic warfare, the 5th generation F-35 will ensure the Israeli air force stays ahead of current and evolving threats to protect its borders and citizens for decades to come.”