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

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday declared Israel "stronger than ever" and laid out a two-pillar defence doctrine, strengthening and independence in a public statement.

"Israel is stronger than ever, and Israel must always be significantly stronger than our enemies. Therefore, I advocate for two principles: strengthening and independence," Netanyahu said Sunday afternoon.

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The declaration came on the same day Israel's defence ministry announced final approval for the purchase of two combat squadrons of F-35 and F-15IA fighter jets from Lockheed Martin and Boeing, a deal worth tens of billions of shekels and the first step in a broader NIS 350 billion ($119 billion) plan to bolster Israel's military over the coming decade.

On strengthening, Netanyahu pointed to the jet acquisitions as proof of Israel's air superiority, referencing Operations Rising Lion and Roaring Lion. "Our pilots can reach any point in the skies of Iran, and they are prepared to do so if required," he said.

On independence, he announced NIS 350 billion in additional defence budget allocation over the next decade to manufacture munitions domestically. "We will not be dependent on foreign sources," he said, adding that Israel would also develop its own aircraft, a move he said would "change the entire picture." He also confirmed he had ordered a special project to counter the drone threat and would receive a progress report Sunday.

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

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The independence doctrine carries particular resonance given that arms supply had emerged as a pressure point during the conflict. Ministry director general Amir Baram said the recent conflict "reinforced just how critical the US-Israel strategic relationship is, and how essential advanced air power remains," while also flagging the need to secure Israel's military edge "ten years from now and beyond."