Israel has signed another agreement for the purchase of F-35 stealth fighter jets.
Over the weekend, the Israeli Ministry of Defense said it signed a deal with F-35 manufacturer Lockheed Martin for the purchase of 17 more F-35s, which in Israeli service are called the F-35I ‘Adir’.
Israel’s cabinet approved the decision to purchase more jets back in November 2016, a month before Israel began taking delivery of its first F-35s.
The country has since then pursued negotiations with Lockheed Martin over the terms of the agreement. In June, Israeli media Walla News reported that Israel had sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Defense looking to complete the purchase.
The new order brings the total number of F-35s on order for Israel to 50, including the jets that have already been delivered. Two arrived in December 2016 while three more arrived in April 2017. Israel will also receive an additional F-35 to be used for testing.
Israel has recently been conducting testing of in-air refueling, as the country seeks to bring its new stealth fighter jets into operational service.
Military markets analyst, covering Eurasia, Middle East, and Africa.
