Plan aims at “Israel’s air superiority”: defence minister.
Netanyahu vows to raise defence budget to $118bn.
Israel to develop “blue-and-white” groundbreaking aircraft: PM.
Israel on Sunday approved a multi-billion-dollar agreement to acquire two combat squadrons of fighter jets from the United States, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stating it would “reinforce” the country’s air superiority.
The deal includes a squadron of F-35 multi-role stealth fighters from Lockheed Martin and another squadron of F-15IA warplanes from Boeing, according to Israel’s defence ministry.
The plan is intended to “ensure Israel’s air superiority for decades to come,” Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement.
“The F-35 and F-15IA acquisitions are central to the ‘Shield of Israel’ plan, designed to provide the IDF (Israeli military) with a lasting qualitative edge,” he added.
The F-35, a joint project involving the United States and several allied nations, is considered one of the most advanced military aircraft in the world. Israel already operates dozens of these jets.
Netanyahu said the move would strengthen Israel’s “overwhelming air superiority” while also committing to developing domestic weapons and fighter aircraft.
“Our pilots can reach anywhere in the skies of Iran and are ready to do so if necessary,” he said.
“Over the next decade, we will add 350 billion shekels ($118 billion) to the defence budget to manufacture such weaponry in Israel and reduce reliance on foreign suppliers,” he stated.
“At the same time, we will develop ‘blue-and-white’ groundbreaking aircraft. This will change the entire picture,” he added, referring to locally developed Israeli products.
Israel’s air force has played a central role in the war in Gaza, carrying out one of the most intense aerial bombardment campaigns in recent history.
Thousands of strikes targeted what Israel described as Hamas positions, including tunnels, command centres, and rocket launch sites, but large parts of the densely populated territory were devastated, including homes, hospitals, and schools.
Israel has also fought two wars against Iran within less than a year, during which its air power was used for long-range strikes deep inside Iranian territory.
The country recently approved its 2026 budget, which includes billions of dollars in increased defence spending.
Israel’s military expenditure has steadily risen since the start of the war in Gaza.
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