Israel to acquire 50 F-35 jets, examining deal for third squadron
The Israeli Air Force currently has 20 F-35 stealth fighter jets in its possession and is on the way to acquiring 50 aircraft – two squadrons – a senior executive from Lockheed Martin, the defense corporation that manufactures the jet, has said.
On a recent visit to Israel, Gary North, vice president for customer requirements at Lockheed Martin, who in the past served in the United States Air Force as the former air component commander for Central Command in the Middle East, spoke to Israeli journalists in recent days at Lockheed Martin offices in Tel Aviv.
North said Israel has submitted a request for information about the potential purchase of a third squadron of F-35 fifth-generation jets, adding that Lockheed Martin was delivering all of the relevant documentation in response to the request.
"In May 2018, the first declared use [by Israel] of the jet was made," he noted, referring to a comment by IAF commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin, who said that Israel had become the first country in the world to use the advanced jet during combat operations, likely against Iranian targets in Syria.
The jet heralds the arrival of a new age in air combat, according to North, due to its unprecedented capabilities, its ability to fuse and share real-time sensor data, and its long-range strike ability.
Although "no nation in the world has got more current air-to-air kills than Israel," North said, "the dog fight in today’s world is really yesterday’s discussion. Because with this airplane and the capabilities of the missiles of the airplane, and the air superiority role, those in the Adir [the IAF’s name for the F-35, meaning ‘Mighty’ in Hebrew], will sweep the sky at a range where adversaries will not even know they’re there."
Israeli defense industries are playing a key role in the manufacture of the aircraft. Elbit teamed up with US company Rockwell Collins to produce the aircraft’s Helmet Mounted Display, allowing pilots to peer through their cockpits 360 degrees and receive an array of sensor data on the situation in the air and on the ground. Israel Aerospace Industries produces the F-35’s wings and wing skins – a special layer placed over the wings that provide them with stealth capability.
"The Israeli industry is absolutely phenomenal," said North. "There’s Israeli content on every single F-35 built. We work very closely with your industry. We’re very proud of both the quality and the content that Israeli technology brings not only to the Adir in Israel, but to every F-35 built. There’s been over $1.74 billion, as of six months ago, generated in the Israeli economy. And over the life of the program, at the existing rate, we believe it will be over $5 billion into the Israeli economy," he stated.
North addressed the F-35’s ability to fly in airspace contested by militaries that have advanced surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries – a key requirement for Israel. Syria represents the most heavily contested airspace in the world, with both the Syrian regime and Russia deploying advanced SAMs there.
"The militaries of the nations that are flying in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, particularly in Syria, they understand the capabilities of the [advanced Russian-made SAM] S-400, the double-digit SAMs that are in place there. Clearly, the militaries here, as they take off either in training or combat, they understand that they are in the sector [of the SAM], if those radars are turned on," he said.
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The Israeli Air Force currently has 20 F-35 stealth fighter jets in its possession and is on the way to acquiring 50 aircraft – two squadrons – a senior executive from Lockheed Martin, the defense corporation that manufactures the jet, has said.
On a recent visit to Israel, Gary North, vice president for customer requirements at Lockheed Martin, who in the past served in the United States Air Force as the former air component commander for Central Command in the Middle East, spoke to Israeli journalists in recent days at Lockheed Martin offices in Tel Aviv.
North said Israel has submitted a request for information about the potential purchase of a third squadron of F-35 fifth-generation jets, adding that Lockheed Martin was delivering all of the relevant documentation in response to the request.
"In May 2018, the first declared use [by Israel] of the jet was made," he noted, referring to a comment by IAF commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin, who said that Israel had become the first country in the world to use the advanced jet during combat operations, likely against Iranian targets in Syria.
The jet heralds the arrival of a new age in air combat, according to North, due to its unprecedented capabilities, its ability to fuse and share real-time sensor data, and its long-range strike ability.
Although "no nation in the world has got more current air-to-air kills than Israel," North said, "the dog fight in today’s world is really yesterday’s discussion. Because with this airplane and the capabilities of the missiles of the airplane, and the air superiority role, those in the Adir [the IAF’s name for the F-35, meaning ‘Mighty’ in Hebrew], will sweep the sky at a range where adversaries will not even know they’re there."
Israeli defense industries are playing a key role in the manufacture of the aircraft. Elbit teamed up with US company Rockwell Collins to produce the aircraft’s Helmet Mounted Display, allowing pilots to peer through their cockpits 360 degrees and receive an array of sensor data on the situation in the air and on the ground. Israel Aerospace Industries produces the F-35’s wings and wing skins – a special layer placed over the wings that provide them with stealth capability.
"The Israeli industry is absolutely phenomenal," said North. "There’s Israeli content on every single F-35 built. We work very closely with your industry. We’re very proud of both the quality and the content that Israeli technology brings not only to the Adir in Israel, but to every F-35 built. There’s been over $1.74 billion, as of six months ago, generated in the Israeli economy. And over the life of the program, at the existing rate, we believe it will be over $5 billion into the Israeli economy," he stated.
North addressed the F-35’s ability to fly in airspace contested by militaries that have advanced surface-to-air missile (SAM) batteries – a key requirement for Israel. Syria represents the most heavily contested airspace in the world, with both the Syrian regime and Russia deploying advanced SAMs there.
"The militaries of the nations that are flying in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Syria, particularly in Syria, they understand the capabilities of the [advanced Russian-made SAM] S-400, the double-digit SAMs that are in place there. Clearly, the militaries here, as they take off either in training or combat, they understand that they are in the sector [of the SAM], if those radars are turned on," he said.
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