The deal is worth $5.2 billion, and includes an option for 25 more aircraft.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced Thursday the signing of an agreement with the American aircraft manufacturer Boeing for the acquisition of 25 “new generation” F-15 fighter planes, financed by American military aid to Israel.
The agreement, worth $5.2 billion, which includes an option for 25 other aircraft, provides for the fighter jets to be delivered in batches of four to six per year, starting in 2031, the ministry said. in a press release.
The new fighter jets, F-15IA, will be “equipped with cutting-edge weapons systems, including the integration of cutting-edge Israeli technologies,” the text specifies.
“The modernized aircraft will feature greater range, greater payload capacity and better performance in various operational scenarios,” according to the statement.
Since the start of the war with Palestinian Hamas in the Gaza Strip on October 7, 2023, Israel has concluded arms purchase agreements worth nearly $40 billion, said Eyal Zamir, Director General from the Ministry of Defense, cited in the press release.
Historical reinforcement
“While focusing on immediate requirements for advanced weapons and munitions at unprecedented levels, we are simultaneously investing in long-term strategic capabilities,” Eyal Zamir said.
“This F-15 squadron, along with the third F-35 squadron acquired earlier this year, represents a historic enhancement of our air power and strategic reach, capabilities that have proven crucial during the current war “, he added.
Israeli aircraft have regularly shelled the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon since the start of the war against Hamas on October 7, 2023, after the bloody attack by the Palestinian Islamist movement in Israel.
The Israeli Ministry of Defense announced at the end of September that it had obtained a new package of American military aid, worth $8.7 billion, including $3.5 billion for the purchase of materials and equipment. war, and $5.2 billion intended to improve Israeli air defense systems.
