The Israeli Air Force command announced on 8th of November that another pair of F-35I Adir fighters had arrived at the Nevatim airbase. While landing new aircraft was accompanied by a pair of previously received F-35I.
Taking into account two new cars, the total number of F-35I “Adir” arriving in Israel increased to 9 units. After the acceptance procedure, the aircraft will be part of the Air Force of Israel.
As reported by the Center for World Trade Analysis with Weapons, in September 2008 the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified the US Congress about the possible sale of 25 F-35A fighters to Israel under the “Foreign Military Sales” program in the version with the usual take-off and landing (UTL) with an option for additional purchase of 50 (UTL) version aircraft or with a short takeoff and vertical landing (STVL), as well as contractual services and equipment. The total cost of the program at that time was estimated at 15.2 billion US dollars.
The order for the supply of the first 19 F-35A fighters in the framework of the program “Foreign military sales” worth 2.75 billion US dollars the Israeli Ministry of Defense posted in October 2010. The assembly of the first F-35A “Adir” began on the 7th of January, 2016.
For the economic reasons, it was decided to split the second batch of aircraft into two tranches. On the 22th of February 22, 2015, the Israeli Defense Ministry signed a second contract valued at $ 2.82 billion, providing for the delivery of 14 F-35A fighters, as well as related equipment and services.
At the end of November 2016, the Israeli government’s inter-ministerial commission on security issues (military-political cabinet) approved the acquisition of another 17 F-35. At the end of August 2017 the delegation of the Ministry of Defense of Israel, directed to the United States signed an agreement on the purchase of additional Adir fighters. Thus, the total number of ordered by Israel F-35A increased to 50 units.
The first pair of F-35A landed at the airbase “Nevatim” on the 12th of December, 2016. Three more fighters arrived in Israel on the 23rd of April, 2017. And on the 14th of September of this year at the air base “Nevatim” landed another two F-35A.
At the present time pilots of the Golden Eagle squadron of the Israeli Air Force are trained on new aircraft. On the initial readiness of the F-35 for combat use it is planned to announce on the 7th of December, 2017. All the fighters of the first batch will be delivered in 2018, the second – by 2021.
Sources:
1.https://vpk.name/news/197975_vvs_izrailya_poluchili_ocherednuyu_paru_istrebitelei_f35_adir.html