Source: ZeroHedge.com
“At time when some of our adversaries aim to undermine our ties with our greatest ally, we only further strengthen our alliance,” Defense Minister Yoav Gallant announced Tuesday upon unveiling Israel’s signing a new $3 billion deal with Lockheed Martin for 25 F-35 fighter jets.
“This sends a powerful message to our enemies across the region,” he continued. This will add a third squadron of the advanced stealth fighters to the Israeli air force arsenal.
“The delivery of the aircrafts to the IDF (army) will commence in 2028 at a rate of three to five aircrafts per year,” the defense ministry specified in a statement.
Once the contract is eventually fulfilled, this will bring the total number of F-35s in Israel’s fleet to 75. Israel remains the only country in the Middle East to possess them. The deal was first introduced last summer, when the defense ministry said it was pursuing talks with the US over the transfer.
The newly inked contract underscores Washington’s long-term commitment to Israel’s defense and maintaining complete military technological superiority over enemies and rivals in the region, despite current tensions among the allies over the proposed Gaza ceasefire deal….