Assembly of first F-35 for Israel begins at Fort Worth

[Zarvan]

Aharon Marmarosh, director Israel Ministry of Defense Mission in New York, signs the bulkhead of F-35A aircraft AS-1, Israel's first F-35 Adir aircraft, at the Lockheed Martin F-35 production facility in Fort Worth, Texas, on 7 January. Source: Lockheed Martin
The first of 33 Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters for Israel has begun assembly on the Fort Worth production line in Texas, the company announced on 10 January.

The bulkhead of the first conventional take-off and landing (CTOL) F-35A, dubbed AS-1, began the mating process to form the aircraft's structure on 7 January ahead of roll-out and delivery to the Israeli Air Force (IAF) later in the year.

The F-35 will feature Israel Aerospace Industries-manufactured wingsets; Elbit Systems-Cyclone F-35 center fuselage composite components; and the Elbit Systems Gen 3 helmet, while the particular 'Adir' ('mighty one' in Hebrew) aircraft earmarked for the IAF are expected to feature some unique modifications that will enable the use of Israeli-designed electronic equipment and weaponry.

In 2011 the IAF disclosed that it is to base its F-35As at Nevatim Airbase, in the Negev desert in the south of the country. This base was expanded in 2008, giving it the longest runway in Israel and the wider Middle East region.

Israel will become the first non-US country to establish an F-35 operational capability, when it declares initial operating capability (IOC) for the type later in 2016. While Israel has so far contracted for 33 aircraft, it is known to have a requirement for up to 100.

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Assembly of first F-35 for Israel begins at Fort Worth | IHS Jane's 360