Senior Lockheed Martin officials are expected to arrive in Israel next week in the hope of finalizing a deal for the purchase of American-made F-35 fighter planes by Israel.
They will meet with the incoming director-general of the Defense Ministry, Major-General (reserves) Ehud Shani as well as other ministry officials and of course, senior IAF commanders.
It is hoped the signing of the deal for the state-of-the-art stealth fighters will take place at the end of March or at the very latest, the beginning of April. The two major disputes surround pricing and American objections to Israeli modifications, especially an electronic warfare unit that Israel plans to install. Nevertheless, the Yisrael HaYom daily reports progress in the negotiations.
If Israel hopes to receive the first of the planes in 2014, a signing must take place sooner rather than later and from the Israel Air Force’s perspective, the quicker the planes arrive the better. Project delays however may result in delivery only taking place in 2016.
The first stage purchase would involve 25 planes with an option for an additional 50. While defense establishment officials insist they are indeed interested in acquiring these planes, “not at any price”, signaling the Americans that they will have to negotiate the current asking price.
In 2002, Israel joined the multinational effort towards construction the next generation fighter plane, granted observer status, not a full partner. Israel did not wish to make the necessary investment to achieve partnership status, a move that still results in much criticism but for now, that is the current reality.
(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)
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2 Responses
Why should the U.S.A. object to the Israelis installing their own modifications?
Israel has proven with the Laivi fighter jet, that they can build their own planes entirely, if necessary and these days I’m sure they could produce a much more advanced fighter then the Laivi was.
It might even rival the F-35, but because of money they get from the U.S. and a desire
to maintain good relations they will keep buying from this country.
But once they get the jets, it hurts no one here what they they do to modify their own jets that they bought.
To #1:
Israel cannot build a jet fighter on their own. Not due to a lack of technical know-how, but due the enormous costs or R&D on a fighter project. That is actually one of the main reason for the cancellation of the Lavi project, it wasn’t just due to US pressure as many Israelis would lead you to believe today.