Israel’s Ministry of Defense announced the approval of plans to acquire two new fighter squadrons: a fourth squadron of F-35I stealth jets from Lockheed Martin and a second squadron of F-15IA aircraft from Boeing. Each squadron consists of 25 aircraft, bringing the Israeli Air Force’s F-35I fleet to 100 planes and the F-15IA fleet to 50 over the coming years.
The decision follows a ministerial procurement committee’s review and comes after recent operations including strikes in Iran. Israel currently operates 48 F-35I jets, with deliveries of an additional 25 ordered in 2023 set to begin in 2028. For the F-15IA, an initial order of 25 was signed in 2024, funded partly by U.S. military aid and valued at about $5.2 billion, with first deliveries expected around 2031 and production completing by 2035.
Defense Ministry Director General Amir Baram directed officials in the U.S. to finalize agreements with American counterparts. The deals, estimated at tens of billions of shekels, include integration, sustainment, spare parts, and logistics support as part of the Shield of Israel force development plan.
Defense Minister Israel Katz described the acquisitions as central to maintaining air superiority amid regional threats. The F-15IA is an Israeli variant of Boeing’s F-15EX, featuring local modifications for electronic warfare, weapons, and communications.