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Israel's Ministerial Committee on Procurement has approved a plan to purchase two new combat fighter squadrons, a fourth F-35I squadron from Lockheed Martin, and a second F-15IA squadron from Boeing, in deals valued at tens of billions of shekels, the Israeli Defense Ministry announced Sunday.
The procurement will eventually expand the Israeli Air Force's F-35I fleet to 100 aircraft and its F-15IA fleet to 50.
The deals include full fleet integration, sustainment, spare parts, and logistics support.
The Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, stated that the approval stems directly from operational experience in the Iran war.
"The operational lessons from the campaign against Iran require us to accelerate force buildup," Katz said, adding, "Our mission is clear: to stay ahead of our enemies."
Katz described the new squadrons as essential to ensuring "air superiority for decades to come," adding that the Iran war "once again demonstrated the Israeli Air Force's power and its decisive role in protecting Israel."
Defense Ministry Director General Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram brought the procurement before the committee alongside Katz as part of the ministry's broader strategy to strengthen readiness ahead of what officials described as "a demanding decade for Israeli security."
The ministry said the new squadrons "will serve as a cornerstone of the Israeli army's long-term force development, addressing evolving regional threats and preserving Israel's strategic air superiority."
The 350-billion-shekel force buildup plan operates under a dedicated budget approved at the prime ministerial and ministerial level, with the fighter squadron acquisitions representing its opening phase.
Israel currently operates 48 F-35I jets following an initial order of 50.
A subsequent order of 25 additional F-35s, placed in 2023, is expected to begin delivery in 2028. Israel ordered 25 F-15IA jets, the Israeli variant of the advanced F-15EX, in 2024, with first deliveries expected in 2031.
Following Sunday's committee approval, Baram directed the Defense Ministry's mission to the United States to "move forward with finalizing the agreements with American government and military counterparts in the coming period."
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