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Israel, U,S. sign $2.75 billion F-35 fighter deal

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By Lynn Adler and Jim Wolf
NEW YORK | Fri Oct 8, 2010 7:41am IST

Israel signed a $2.75 billion deal on Thursday with the United States to buy about 20 radar-evading Lockheed Martin Corp F-35 fighter jets, calling it the world's most advanced combat plane.

Israel is to receive the jets from 2015 through 2017, according to an Israeli statement at a signing ceremony at the consulate in New York. The Jewish state is the first buyer outside the aircraft's nine-nation co-development group.

The agreement was signed after years of talks on such issues as aircraft price, Israeli industrial participation in F-35 production as well as integration of Israeli capabilities on its own F-35 fleet.

The cost was put at about $96 million per aircraft, including the engine. In addition, the deal includes simulators, spare parts and maintenance -- making the total value $2.75 billion, the Israeli statement said.

At least 19 F-35s are expected to be part of the first batch. The total value could be as high as $15.2 billion if all options are exercised, the Pentagon told Congress in an initial notification in September 2008.

"The signing ... is an event of great strategic and historic significance," Michael Oren, Israel's ambassador to the United States, said in a separate statement.

Describing the F-35 as the world's most advanced fighter, Oren said it would boost Israel's ability to defend itself, "by itself, against any threat or combination of threats, from anywhere within the Middle East."

Retired Major General Ehud Shani, director-general of the defense ministry, signed for Israel. U.S. Navy Vice Admiral David Venlet, head of the Pentagon's F-35 joint program office, signed for the United States.

Contrary to the written statement, Shani told reporters the F-35 would start arriving in 2016, a one-year discrepancy with the press release that was not immediately explained.

The statement did not say how many jets were involved, possibly because this could depend on the ultimate cost of incorporating home-made Israeli technology.

When asked if Israel planned to buy more than an initial 20, Shani told reporters Israel had an option to buy a "couple of dozens" more.

Company representatives referred questions about the number of F-35s to be supplied and their configuration to the U.S. government, which is brokering the deal under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program.

The U.S. Defense Department had no immediate comment.

Asked about Israel's arch-foe Iran, he said Tehran is "a problem for all the democratic and free world, and one of the answers ... concerning this problem is the F-35."

The contract had been delayed by Israel's push to build in its own electronic warfare, communications and other high-tech systems -- changes that U.S. officials generally opposed as overly costly and potentially counter-productive.
Israel, U,S. sign $2.75 billion F-35 fighter deal | Reuters
 
So by 2017 our FGFA's are gonna practice with F-35 's of Israel..

Kewl Amazing..
 
dint they offer us f35 for our navy in near future?

F-35 is a good replacement for Sea Harrier, but not sure if we can bet on the US.

IIRC we will have the option to buy F-35 if we choose an American contender in MMRCA.

Also, F-35 is overrated. Its less capable than top 4.5 gen fighters but has stealth.

In the usual USAF strategy, small numbers of F-22 are supposed to spear head the attack followed by F-35s to take out any remaining defences, followed by 4.5th gen fighters.

F-22 is way ahead of F-35, in performance and costs.
 
Along with an occasional participation in the Red flag India should hold bilateral exercises with the Israeli air force .....preferable on Indian soil .....according to Indian conditions and scenarios ......

truly now this should give the GOI an initiative to fast develop and bring the FGFA into production......if Israel ...a grade 3 partner in the F35 can receive the jets in as soon as 5 years .....wont be long before our adversaries field their 5th gen jets on our borders......

Would be interesting to see how Israel customizes the Avionics for their operational requirements .......if Elbit Sytems come up with suitable ones ...India can negotiate to have them installed on FGFAs too......a really encouraging development.....
 
dint they offer us f35 for our navy in near future?

Yes, in the competition for 40 fighters for IAC2, but they are way too expensive and comes with even more restrictions than F16IN, or F18SH.
 
dint they offer us f35 for our navy in near future?
and only when we choose F-16 in MRCA. which we will not.
F-35 is not a plane with good returns. and still not sure when it will hit the market. Too many crooks have already spoiled the broth.
 
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