Israel’s Ministerial Committee on Procurement has approved the acquisition of two new fighter squadrons for the Israeli Air Force, consisting of a fourth squadron of Lockheed Martin F-35I Adir jets and a second squadron of Boeing F-15IA aircraft.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced the decision on Sunday, stating the deals are valued at tens of billions of shekels and include full integration into the Air Force, along with sustainment, spare parts, and logistics support. Each squadron comprises 25 aircraft, doubling Israel’s F-35I fleet from around 50 to 100 planes and expanding the F-15IA fleet from 25 to 50.
This procurement follows a December 2025 U.S. Foreign Military Sales agreement that awarded Boeing an $8.6 billion contract for 25 F-15IA jets, with options for 25 more. Israel currently operates 87 F-15 aircraft across variants, 45 to 50 F-35I fighters customized with domestic electronic warfare systems and weapons, and 222 F-16C/D jets.
The move advances a 350 billion shekel ($119 billion) long-term military buildup plan amid regional threats, positioning Israel among the largest operators of both aircraft types.