Israel inks deal to buy 25 more F-35 fighter jets for $3B

Israel’s Defense Ministry on Tuesday officially signed a deal with the United States to procure a third F-35 fighter jet squadron, Report informs via The Times of Israel.

The ministry said a delegation to the US signed a letter of agreement for the $3 billion deal that included 25 advanced stealth fighters built by Lockheed Martin.

The planes would begin to be delivered starting in 2028, in batches of three to five per year, the ministry said. The aircraft would bring the Israeli Air Force’s F-35 fleet to 75 in the coming years. Only 39 of Israel’s original order of 50 F-35s have so far been delivered.