- Israel finalized a $5.2 billion deal for 25 Boeing F-15IA fighter jets, funded by U.S. military assistance.
- The jets will feature advanced Israeli technologies, enhancing range, payload, and operational performance.
- Delivery is set to begin in 2031, with groups of four to six jets arriving annually.
- This acquisition supports Israel’s long-term strategic air power amidst regional challenges.
- Calls for arms restrictions on Israel have emerged, with figures like French President Macron advocating for an embargo, but key allies like the U.S. and Germany have resisted.
Israel has signed a $5.2 billion deal for 25 advanced Boeing F-15IA fighter jets, funded by U.S. military aid, with deliveries starting in 2031. These jets feature state-of-the-art Israeli technologies, offering enhanced range, payload, and performance. The move is part of Israel’s broader effort to boost military capabilities following recent conflicts, including the October 2023 Gaza conflict. Some international voices, such as French President Emmanuel Macron, have called for arms restrictions on Israel to curb ongoing regional violence. However, key allies like the U.S. and Germany have resisted full embargoes, despite facing pressure over specific weapon limitations.
Israel Fighter Jets
On Wednesday, Israel finalized a $5.2 billion agreement to acquire a fleet of 25 advanced fighter jets, with funding from Washington’s military assistance, as announced by the Defense Ministry.
The agreement features 25 Boeing F-15IA fighter jets — the Israeli version of the sophisticated F-15EX — along with options for an additional 25. According to the agreement, the aircraft will be delivered in groups of four to six annually, beginning in 2031.
The Defense Ministry stated that the new fighter jets will feature “advanced weapon systems, incorporating the latest Israeli technologies.”
“The upgraded aircraft will have boosted range abilities, greater payload capacity, and enhanced performance in a variety of operational situations.” The ministry stated, “These benefits will allow the Israeli Air Force to sustain its strategic dominance in tackling present and upcoming challenges in the Middle East.”
Eyal Zamir, the director general of the Defense Ministry, stated that Israel has secured approximately $40 billion in procurement agreements since the Gaza conflict began on October 7, 2023, when thousands of Hamas-led militants invaded the south, resulting in the deaths of around 1,200 individuals and the kidnapping of 251 hostages.
Boeing
“Zamir stated that as we prioritize urgent requirements for advanced arms and ammunition at extraordinary levels, we are also making investments in long-term strategic capabilities.” “This F-15 squadron, together with the third F-35 squadron acquired earlier this year, signifies a historic advancement of our air power and strategic capability — strengths that have been vital in the ongoing war.”
Ido Nehushtan, the president of Boeing Israel and a former chief of the Israel Air Force, stated, “Boeing is proud of its enduring partnership with Israel, a relationship that has existed since the founding of our nation.”
“The company will persist in collaborating with the US and Israeli governments to provide the advanced F-15IA aircraft via standard military procurement processes,” he noted.
Reports of the agreement surfaced as certain members of the international community, including Israel’s allies, have called for limiting arms sales to Jerusalem to help resolve the conflicts in Gaza and Lebanon.
On Wednesday, Egypt responded to Turkey’s appeal — backed by 52 additional countries, such as Russia and China — urging the United Nations to impose an arms embargo on Israel.
In October, French President Emmanuel Macron stated that an arms embargo is the sole solution to conclude the conflict in Gaza. A month prior, expressing worries about Israel’s actions in the war, Britain and Canada halted certain arms trade licenses with Israel but refrained from demanding an arms embargo.
Israel’s two primary suppliers of arms, the United States and Germany, have been reluctant to support demands for an embargo on Israel, although both have faced accusations of restricting specific weapons during the conflict.
Leave a Reply