Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Israeli procurement
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Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II procurement
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Israeli procurement
A model of F-35 at Nevatim Air Force Base.
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Israeli procurement is the result of an agreement for the government of Israel to
procure the
Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II for the
Israeli Air Force.
Contents
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History[edit]
2003[edit]
In 2003,
Israel signed a formal letter of agreement, worth almost $20 million, to join the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) effort for the F-35 as a "security cooperation participant" (SCP).
[1]
2006[edit]
The
Israeli Air Force (IAF) stated in 2006 that the F-35 is a key part of IAF's recapitalization plans, and that Israel intends to buy over 100 F-35A fighters at an estimated cost of over $5 billion to replace their F-16s over time.
[2] Israel was reinstated as a partner in the development of the F-35 on 31 July 2006, after its participation was put on hold following the
Chinese arms deal crisis.
[3]
On 16 November 2006, Yaakov Katz of the
Jerusalem Post reported that if no jet fighters were delivered to Israel between the last batch of F-16s in 2007 and the first F-35s in 2014 then the IAF would decline in numbers as older fighters wore out and were retired.
[4]
2010[edit]
Rafael Advanced Defense Systems is developing smaller versions of the
Python and
Derby missiles for internal carriage while
Israel Military Industries is developing a penetration bomb in the same configuration as the
Mk 82 500 lb bomb.
[5]However these have been put off in order to rush the aircraft into operation to deal with the
Nuclear program of Iran.
[6]
On 26 July 2010, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that he would insist on the industrial participation, local
electronic warfare parts and local weapons aspects during his trip to the United States.
[7] Barak submitted a request to the full cabinet for 20 F-35s for $2.75 billion to be delivered starting in 2015. This includes the costs of setting up local firms to assemble the aircraft and manufacture spare parts.
[8][9] The entire package is to be paid for though American military assistance.
[10][11]
Former head of the IAF, retired Major General
Eitan Ben Eliyahu, has called the American approval of the deal a key test of
Israel – United States relations.
[12]
“The F-35 is the fighter plane of the future that will allow Israel to maintain its aerial superiority and its technological advantage in the region... The F-35 will give the IAF better capabilities, both near and far, to help strengthen Israel's national security.”
—Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak.
[13]
In a bid to maintain Israel's technological gap ahead of Arab states, the F-35 deal was pushed through instead of upgrading the air force's F-15s and F-16s. This approach sticks to the principle that Israel is the first country in the Middle East to receive the newest fighter aircraft. The IAF was sufficiently committed to this principle to override protests from the leaders of Israeli defense contractors, who claimed that the deal was damaging them. The package also got by opposition from a number of members of the
General Staff who criticized the high price of the deal, which does not allow for investment into weapons for the land forces and navy.
[13]
The first squadron of 20 F-35 jets from the first production series would only include a few Israeli-made systems. The United States, meanwhile, has agreed that if Israel buys more F-35 squadrons from later production series, the installation of more Israeli-made systems will be allowed. To sweeten the deal, Lockheed Martin said it would buy parts and systems for the F-35 from Israeli companies at a cost of $4 billion. The aircraft will be designated F-35I, as there will be unique Israeli features installed in them.
[14]
The total price tag confirmed by Barak indicates that each aircraft costs about $96 million, with further expenses on training, simulators, spare parts and the building of maintenance infrastructure. Defense Ministry Director-General
Udi Shani said that apart from the jet's operational capacity, a significant factor in closing the deal included previous agreements on integrating Israeli defense contractors in producing the F-35 for other clients.
[13]
