Israel Expands F-35 Fleet with $3 Billion Deal
Israel has announced plans to acquire an additional 25 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters, bringing the total number of jets ordered to 75. The purchase, worth approximately $3 billion, will be funded by American military aid. The new jets will form a third squadron for Israel's air force and will involve Israeli defense industries in the production of aircraft components. Israel has been a major customer of the F-35, with the first jets arriving in 2016 and seeing combat in 2018. The country also operates F-16s and F-15s and has sought to modernize its tanker fleet and acquire new helicopters.