- Defense minister says procurement follows lessons learned from recent Iran war; shipments carrying 6,500 tons of military gear arrive in Israel
Israel will procure two more squadrons of F-35I and F-15IA fighter jets from the United States, following lessons learned from the recent Iran war, the Defense Ministry announced on Sunday.
Over the weekend, a defense procurement committee made up of senior ministers approved a Defense Ministry plan to acquire a fourth F-35I squadron from Lockheed Martin, and a second F-15IA squadron from Boeing, in deals that are valued at tens of billions of shekels, the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry said the jets “will serve as a cornerstone of the IDF’s long-term force development, addressing evolving regional threats and preserving Israel’s strategic air superiority.”
Following the committee’s approval, Defense Ministry director general Amir Baram instructed the ministry’s mission to the US to “move forward with finalizing the agreements with American government and military counterparts in the coming period.”
The aircraft would eventually bring the Israeli Air Force’s F-35I fleet to 100 and F-15IA — the Israeli variant of the advanced F-15EX — fleet to 50 in the coming years.
Currently, Israel has 48 F-35I jets, following an initial order of 50. Another 25 F-35s were ordered in 2023, which are expected to be delivered starting in 2028. Israel ordered 25 F-15IA jets in 2024, and the first are expected to be delivered starting in 2031.
In a statement, Defense Minister Israel Katz said that the recent war in Iran “once again demonstrated the Israeli Air Force’s power and its decisive role in protecting Israel.”
“The lessons of that campaign require us to keep pressing forward on force buildup, to ensure air superiority for decades to come,” he said.
Baram said that “alongside immediate wartime procurement needs, we have a responsibility to act now to secure the IDF’s military edge ten years from now and beyond.”
“Operation Roaring Lion reinforced just how critical the US-Israel strategic relationship is, and how essential advanced air power remains,” he said, referring to the recent 40-day conflict with Iran.
Shipments from US carrying 6,500 tons of military gear arrive in Israel
Last week, two cargo ships and several planes carrying 6,500 tons of military equipment from the United States, including thousands of munitions and light armored utility vehicles, arrived in Israel, the Defense Ministry said.
The ships, which docked at the Haifa and Ashdod ports, were carrying “thousands of air munitions, ground munitions, military trucks, JLTV combat mobility vehicles, and additional equipment,” the ministry said.
by the Defense Ministry on April 30, 2026.
The 6,500 tons of equipment were loaded onto trucks and taken to various military bases across the country.
Baram said the procurement operation “will continue and intensify in the coming weeks.”
The ministry said that since the start of the war with Iran on February 28, more than 115,600 tons of military equipment have arrived in Israel on 403 flights and 10 ships.
Katz said the ministry’s goal is “to ensure that the IDF receives all the necessary means so that it can return to operating at full strength against our enemies at any time and in any place required.”
BY: The Times Union – REUTERS
