Israel procures third squadron of F-35 jets in $3 billion deal with US

Israel’s Defense Ministry reported that a delegation to the United States signed a letter of agreement on Tuesday to procure a third squadron of "Adir" F-35 fighter jets.

The $3 billion contract includes 25 stealth fighters built by Lockheed Martin, with deliveries starting in 2028 in batches of three to five per year. Financed by the U.S. Foreign Military Financing (FMF), the new deal will increase the Israeli Air Force's (IAF) F-35 fleet to 75 in the coming years. To date, only 36 of Israel’s initial order of 50 F-35 jets have been delivered.

"The procurement of the third F-35 squadron reflects the strength of the strategic alliance between Israel and the United States. This capability has a significant impact on arenas both near and far. At a time when some of our adversaries aim to undermine our ties with our greatest ally, we only further strengthen our alliance," Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant stated in the announcement. "This sends a powerful message to our enemies across the region."

Defense Ministry Director-General Maj.-Gen. (Ret.) Eyal Zamir expressed gratitude to the U.S. Department of Defense for the new deal, which he said "will help ensure the continued readiness of the IDF and the Air Force for multi-threat challenges in the coming years."

Pratt & Whitney, the engine manufacturer for the fighter jets, has committed to involving Israeli industry in the production of aircraft sold to U.S. forces and other countries.

The agreement was signed by Brig.-Gen. (ret.) Mishel Ben Baruch, the director of the IDF Mission to the U.S. (IMOD) and comes amid the announcement of U.S. President Joe Biden’s three-phase plan for ending the nearly 8-month war in Gaza. The plan includes freeing all the hostages and sending a hefty aid package to rebuild the war-torn strip.

U.S. Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield said the United States circulated a draft resolution to the 14 other council members, urging them to back the proposal.

“Numerous leaders and governments, including in the region, have endorsed this plan and we call on the Security Council to join them in calling for implementation of this deal without delay and without further conditions,” she said in a statement. "The brief draft resolution would welcome the May 31 deal announced by Biden and call on Hamas “to accept it fully and implement its terms without delay and without condition.”

Hamas reportedly views the proposal “positively.”