Israel Approves Plan to Buy F-35 and F-15IA Fighter Jets From Lockheed, Boeing

Israel gave final approval for a plan to purchase two ‌new combat squadrons of F-35 and F-15IA advanced fighter aircraft from Lockheed Martin and Boeing.

A F-35 fighter jet flies during a graduation ceremony for Israeli Air Force pilots at Hatzerim Airbase, in southern Israel, on June 29, 2023. Amir Cohen/Reuters

JERUSALEM—Israel gave final approval for a plan to purchase two ‌new combat squadrons of F-35 and F-15IA advanced fighter aircraft from Lockheed Martin and Boeing in a deal worth tens of billions of dollars, ‌the defence ministry said on Sunday.

The 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.