Israel approves purchase of fighter jets from the US

Israel to buy two new combat squadrons of F-35 ⁠and F-15IA advanced fighter aircraft from Lockheed Martin and Boeing in a deal worth tens of ​billions of dollars.Israel has given final approval for a multibillion-dollar deal to buy two new combat squadrons of advanced F-35 and F-15IA fighter jets from United States manufacturers Lockheed Martin and Boeing, the Ministry of Defence says.Israel’s Ministerial Committee on Procurement signed off on the deal as the initial phase of a 350-billion-shekel ($119bn) programme to boost the country’s armed forces and “strengthen readiness ahead of a demanding decade for Israeli security”, it said on Sunday.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemslist 1 of 3Israeli air strikes on Lebanon kill 41 people in 24-hourslist 2 of 3At least 12 killed in latest Israeli attacks on Lebanonlist 3 of 3Israel issues new forced displacement orders in southern Lebanonend of list“Alongside immediate wartime procurement needs, ‌‌we have a responsibility to act now to secure the [military’s] edge 10 years from now and beyond,” Defence Ministry Director General Amir Baram said.The continuing US-Israel war on Iran “reinforced just how critical the US-Israel strategic relationship is and how essential advanced air power remains”, he added.Under the deal, Israel would buy a fourth F-35 squadron from Lockheed Martin and a second squadron of F-15IA fighter jets from Boeing.In December, Boeing was given an $8.6bn ⁠⁠contract for Israel, including 25 new F-15IAs and an option for 25 more.Baram ⁠⁠said the next step would be to move forward with finalising the agreements with the US government and military.Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the purchase “reinforces Israel’s overwhelming air superiority – a superiority that was demonstrated in Am KeLavi [12-day war on Iran] and now in Shaagat HaAri [ongoing war in Iran]”.“Our pilots are prepared to reach anywhere in Iranian airspace if required,” he added.