Boeing to supply 25 F-15 fighter jets to Israel

Boeing will be supplying Israel with 25 F-15IA fighter jets - the Israeli variant of the advanced F-15EX - with options for 25 more, Report informs referring to The Times of Israel.

According to Boeing, the new F-15 “carries more weapons than any other fighter in its class, and can launch hypersonic weapons up to 22 feet long and weigh up to 7,000 pounds.”

In January, Israel sent a formal request to the United States to purchase the new F-15 fighters.

If the deal goes through and Israel returns to purchasing F-15s, it would mark the first Boeing fighter jet acquisition by the Israeli Air Force in two decades. In the years since, Israel has bought 100 F-16s and another 50 F-35 stealth jets from Boeing’s chief competitor, Lockheed Martin.

The first of four KC-46 tankers, which Israel would need in order to conduct a strike in Israel, is still scheduled to be delivered in 2025. Israel has asked that this date be moved up - which would require the US to give up its spot in line to receive planes from Boeing - but Washington has thus far rejected the request.

The KC-46 aircraft are to replace the Israeli Air Force’s current fleet of aging refueling planes, which includes KC-130 Hercules and converted Boeing 707s.

Under an agreement last year, Israel has the option to purchase four more KC-46 planes in the future as well.

The first KC-46 was delivered to the US Air Force in 2019 and the service has ordered 179 of the planes, set to be delivered by 2027.