Pentagon seeks $15.2 bn fighter jet sale to Israel

WASHINGTON: The Defense Department said Tuesday that it wants to sell up to 75 fighter jets to Israel in a $15.2 billion deal for the aircraft expected to be the mainstay of air power in the U.S. and several other nations for decades.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said it notified Congress on Friday that Israel has asked to buy 25 of the F-35s made by Lockheed Martin Corp., with an option to buy an additional 50 at a later date.

The sale would be the first to a country outside of the U.S. and eight partner nations that are collaborating on the F-35, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter. The jet is still under development and is not yet in service, but the U.S. plans to eventually acquire 2,458 planes for the Army, Marines and Air Force at a cost of $300 billion.

The F-35 was designed as a replacement for a range of warplanes, including the F-16, which is a large component of many air forces worldwide. Countries such as Spain, Singapore and Japan also have expressed interest in the F-35.

Israel has said it plans to buy a fleet of F-35s as it upgrades its military technology. The first batch of 25 would be the variant of F-35 designed for conventional take off from military airfields, but the later 50 could include a version that can land vertically.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement that the proposed sale will help Israel ``develop and maintain a strong self-defense capability.'' It also said that sale of the technologically advanced fighter won't upset the balance of military power in the region.

The U.S is developing the plane with nations that include Britain, Australia and Italy, though the Pentagon has shouldered much of the funding. Plans currently call for the military to start flying the plane in 2010.

Lockheed is the lead contractor on the F-35, which includes engines made United Technologies Corp.'s Pratt and Whitney unit and General Electric Co. The Israel deal also includes spare parts and services for the plane. Lockheed welcomed the possible sale.

``This would be an important first step in expanding interest in the Joint Strike Fighter,'' according to a statement from the Bethesda, Md.-based company.

While the jet is expected to be widely used, the program has suffered some setbacks, including delays and escalating cost that have been criticized by government auditors. When maintenance and service costs for the life of the jet are added in, the cost of the F-35 to the U.S. could reach $1 trillion over the next several decades.

Lockheed, the nation's largest defense contractor, also recently had to defend the plane against claims it has performed poorly in tests and combat simulations. The company said it is the most advanced fighter of its class available.