As regional threats increase, Israeli Air Force expands with two new F-35I and F-15IA squadrons

The Israeli Air Force will add two new squadrons of F-35I and F-15IA fighter jets, the Defense Ministry announced on Sunday, saying the aircraft “will serve as a cornerstone of the IDF’s long-term force development, addressing evolving regional threats and preserving Israel’s strategic air superiority.”

“Israel is stronger than ever, and Israel must always be significantly stronger than our enemies,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said.

The Israeli Defense Ministry Director General, Amir Baram, ordered its mission in the United States to “move forward with finalizing the agreements with American government and military counterparts in the coming period.”

Looking ahead, Baram assessed that “alongside immediate wartime procurement needs, we have a responsibility to act now to secure the IDF’s military edge ten years from now and beyond.”

“Operation Roaring Lion reinforced just how critical the US-Israel strategic relationship is, and how essential advanced air power remains,” the top defense official stated, referring to the joint U.S. and Israeli 40-day war with the Islamic Republic of Iran. 

The deals to purchase a second F-15IA squadron from Boeing and a fourth F-35I squadron from Lockheed Martin are reportedly worth billions of dollars. “We are acquiring two squadrons of advanced aircraft – the F-35 and the F-15IA. These aircraft bolster Israel’s overwhelming air superiority,” Netanyahu said. The announcement comes amid ongoing tensions with the Iranian regime and its regional proxies, including Hezbollah in Lebanon.

Earlier this week, Israel received 6,500 tons of munitions delivered from the United States amid speculations that U.S. President Donald Trump is contemplating potential new military strikes on Iran if the diplomatic talks fail.

The Israeli Defense Ministry revealed that the Jewish state has received over 115,600 tons of arms equipment from the United States since the Iran war started on Feb. 28.

Netanyahu has declared that "Over the coming decade, we will add NIS 350 billion to the defense budget to manufacture these munitions here in Israel, ensuring we are not dependent on foreign sources."

The new agreements with Boeing and Lockheed Martin mean that the Israel Air Force’s fifth-generation F-35I fleet will expand in the coming years to 100 stealth fighter jets.

In 2024, Israel purchased a third squadron of F-35I fighter jets, with deliveries scheduled to begin in 2028. The additional F-35I fighter jets are scheduled for delivery beginning in 2031. In addition, the Israeli Air Force’s F-35I fleet will expand to 50 fighter jets. 

The IAF currently has some 300 advanced fighter jets, comprising 48 operational F-35s and the rest older F-15 and F-16 platforms. 

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz argued that the Iran war “once again demonstrated the Israeli Air Force’s power and its decisive role in protecting Israel.”

“The lessons of that campaign require us to keep pressing forward on force buildup, to ensure air superiority for decades to come,” Katz stated. The defense minister concluded by emphasizing that the strategic goal is “to ensure that the IDF receives all the necessary means so that it can return to operating at full strength against our enemies at any time and in any place required.”

Coordination between the U.S. and Israeli militaries reached unprecedented levels during the recent war with Iran. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth praised Israel’s military for its “unmatched skill” and described Israel as a “willing and capable ally” during the joint strikes. Hegseth and CENTCOM chief Adm. Brad Cooper said the U.S. and Israeli air forces achieved near-total aerial supremacy over Iranian airspace.