Israel orders 17 fighter jets from US

The Israeli Defense Ministry has given its approval to the US Department of Defence for the purchase of 17 F-35 stealth fighter jets, bringing the number of fighter jets in the Israeli air force to 50 in the next five years.

Israel signed the first deal with the United States for 19 such aircrafts worth $2.7 billion, and in 2014 the second agreement was signed for the purchase of 14 aircrafts, bringing the total number of aircraft to 33. In 2016, the Israeli government decided to buy 17 aircrafts which has now been approved.

Five such aircrafts are currently operating from the Israel’s Naftim Air Base in the Negev. Two planes will arrive in August and two in September. In 2018, nine more jets will be delivered to Israel and by 2021, the Israeli Air Force will have 33. No information has yet been released about the delivery of the remaining 17 jets which are being ordered.