Brief by Shorts91 Newsdesk / 01:06pm on 03 May 2026,Sunday International
Israel has approved a multi-billion dollar defence deal to acquire new squadrons of F-35 Lightning II and F-15IA aircraft from Lockheed Martin and Boeing. The agreement, part of a broader 350 billion shekel military modernisation plan, aims to strengthen long-term air superiority and counter regional threats. Deliveries are expected from 2026 into the early 2030s. The plan includes expanding Israel’s F-35 fleet toward 100 aircraft and procuring up to 50 F-15IA jets while upgrading existing F-16s. Officials said lessons from the recent Iran conflict underscored the importance of advanced air power and the US-Israel strategic partnership. (PC: Reuters)
