Israel Buys 17 Stealth Fighter Jets From U.S.

On Sunday, November 27, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that his security cabinet made the decision to purchase 17 additional F-35 stealth fighter jets from U.S. corporation Lockheed Martin.

The purchase will bring Israel’s F-35 squadron up to 50 airplanes total, according to the press release.

Israel has been stockpiling so-called ”fifth generation” fighters, like the F-35, since 2010 in an effort to replace aging F-16 and F-15 planes, according to UPI.

The F-35 itself is a marvel of modern engineering, able to travel supersonic speeds while remaining stealth to enemy radar.

This phantom-like capability enables it to evade air defense systems, such as the Russian-made S-300 missiles used by Iran.

The beefing up of Israeli defenses is largely in response to the passing of the nuclear deal between the Iran and world powers, which Netanyahu has been vehemently critical of, according to Middle East Eye.

Israel’s leader remains unconvinced that Iran will cease to enrich weapons-grade uranium for nuclear weapons, making the Islamic republic an enemy to the state of Israel.

Netanyahu went on record saying that he ”intends to act to strengthen Israel’s security and ensure its existence in the coming decades.”

”Israel can defend itself with its own forces against all of its enemies, whatever the distance,” stated Netanyahu.

Israel is one of 11 countries other than the United States that has contracted to make use of the super-sophisticated F-35 fighter. Japan, South Korea, Norway, and Turkey are among the partner nations that currently use or will use the fighter by 2040.

The addition of F-35 fighters to Israel has also netted the country’s defense industry approximately $778 million since their arrival on June 22.

The total cost of the 17 new planes is unknown, however President Barack Obama signed over a $38 billion military aid package to Israel two months ago. The package is set to last one decade, and is the largest military aid package in U.S. history.

The F-35 purchase coincides with Israeli airstrikes against the Islamic State. Israeli Air Force planes struck an IS-operated vehicle near an outpost in Golan Heights, Israel, killing four militants.

Sources: UPI (2), Middle East Eye, Israel Prime Minister’s Office/Photo Credit: Forsvarsdepartementet/Flickr