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Photo by: Associated Press

Barak approves purchase of F-35s
By YAAKOV KATZ AND JPOST.COM STAFF
15/08/2010
Israel to receive first 20 fighters in 2015, cost estimated at $2.75b.

Defense Minister Ehud Barak gave his approval Sunday for the purchase of the fifth-generation F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) by the Israeli Air Force from the US.

"The F-35 is a fighter jet of the future that will enable Israel to continue its air superiority and mainatain its qualitative edge in the region," said Barak. "The plane will provide the air force with better long-range and short-range capabilities in a manner that will help ensure national security."

While the Pentagon has approved an Israeli request to purchase 75 aircraft, Israel plans – at the initial stage – to only buy around 20 JSFs. The deal is estimated to cost $2.75 billion. Barak will take the deal to the cabinet for final approval.

Two main obstacles have impeded Israeli procurement plans until now – the price of the aircraft, likely to reach just over $140 million, as well as US opposition to the integration of Israeli-designed technical systems into the plane.

Due to the high price of the aircraft, Israel will buy a first batch configured like the standard US version. The initial planes will begin arriving in Israel towards the end of 2015.