Israel approves plan to buy F-35 and F-15I fighter jets amid Iran war

Israel has given a final nod for ‌a ⁠plan to ⁠purchase two new combat squadrons of F-35 ⁠and F-15Ia ‌fighter jet aircraft from Lockheed ⁠Martin and Boeing in a deal worth tens of ‌billions of shekels (Israeli currency), the country's defence ⁠ministry said on Sunday.

The deal comes at a time when the United States and Israel have been involved in a two-month-long war with Tehran, which started with joint airstrikes, and is currently stuck at a peace deal that involves reopening the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's nuclear ambitions.

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The defence deal, approved by Israel's Ministerial Committee on Procurement, is a first step in a 350 billion shekel ($119 billion) plan to bolster Israel's military and "strengthen ‌readiness ahead of ⁠a ⁠demanding decade for Israeli security," it said.

On the defence deal, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "We are acquiring two squadrons of advanced aircraft – the F-35 and the F-15IA. These aircraft bolster Israel’s overwhelming air superiority, a superiority that was proven in Operation Rising Lion and now in Operation Roaring Lion."

He affirmed that Israeli pilots can reach "any point in the skies of Iran" and they are prepared to do so if required.

The ministry notification added that the new squadrons will serve as a cornerstone of the ​military's long-term force development, addressing regional threats and preserving Israel’s strategic air superiority.

"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 ministry director general Amir Baram, referring to the Israel Defense Forces, as quoted by Reuters.

The recent ​conflict with Iran "reinforced just how critical the U.S.-Israel strategic relationship ⁠is, and ‌how essential advanced air power remains," he added.

Under the deal finalised on Sunday, Israel would ​buy a ​fourth F-35 squadron from Lockheed Martin and a second squadron of F-15IA ⁠fighter jets from Boeing.

In December, the government gave a $8.6 billion contract to Boeing, which included 25 new F-15IAs and an option for ​25 more.

Baram further added that the next step would be to move forward with finalizing the agreements with the US government and military counterparts.

Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said the war with Iran demonstrated the air ‌force's power and its decisive role in protecting Israel. "The lessons of that campaign require us to keep pressing forward on force buildup, to ensure air ​superiority for decades ​to come," he said.

Katz added the new aircraft would lead to a ​significant technological leap in integrating autonomous flight capabilities, next-generation defence systems, and establishing Israeli military dominance in space.

"Our mission is clear: to ensure the IDF has the tools, capabilities, and strength to operate anywhere, at any time," Katz said. "We will continue to invest, to grow stronger, and to stay ahead of our enemies - to keep Israel secure today and in the future."

Also read: ‘Israel is stronger than ever, our pilots can reach any point in Iranian skies,’ says Prime Minister Netanyahu

Lockheed Martin's F-35

Lockheed Martin's F-35 is the most advanced node in a 21st-century security network-centric architecture. It has the ability to securely connect high-tech platforms to share information across every domain – air, land, sea, space and cyber.

12 nations operate the F-35 fleet, with almost 1,300 aircraft in service.

In 2025, US delivered 191 F-35s in 2025, surpassing the previous delivery record of 142 jets. The present annual production is running at a pace five times faster than any other allied fighter currently in production.

The F-35 has proven its performance in real-world combat operations, including suppressing Iran's air defenses during Operation Midnight Hammer, recording nearly 5,000 mishap-free flight hours during a U.S. Marine Corps F-35B deployment and eliminating Russian drones over Poland.

Boeing's F-15I

Boeing's F-15I had joined the Israeli fleet in 1997 for the first time with 25 units. Known as 'Thunder' in Israel, the two-seat F-15I is like the US Air Force's F-15E Strike Eagle. It is a dual-role fighter that combines long-range interdiction with the Eagle's air superiority capabilities.

The F-15I is equipped with the Hughes APG-70 synthetic aperture radar, the Kaiser holographic head-up display system, and an Elbit display and sight helmet (DASH) system. The fighter jet is armed with a number of precision weapons systems, as well as Python and AMRAAM air-to-air missiles.