The Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Israeli procurement is the result of an agreement for the government of Israel to purchase the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II for the Israeli Air Force as the F-35I "Adir". The first nine F-35s became operational with the Israeli Air Force in December 2017.
On 22 May 2018, Israeli Air Force commander, Major General Amikam Norkin, reported that Israel had become the first country in the world to use the F-35 in combat. They were also used in the Gaza war.
In November 2020, an F-35I testbed aircraft was delivered. This was the only example of a testbed F-35 delivered to an air force outside of the United States.
As of 13 November 2022, the Israeli Air Force had 36 F-35s in service, including the testbed stationed at the Flight Test Center at Tel Nof Airbase, and operated three squadrons at Nevatim Airbase – the 140th, 116th and 117th.
Preparation for introduction The IAF's initial plans were to send pilots to the US in 2016 to begin training on the F-35 together with American pilots, and to take the first deliveries of F-35s in late 2016 or early 2017. It was announced in March 2013 that Israel would receive its first F-35s in 2015.
The Israeli F-35s are based at Nevatim Airbase in the Negev. The decision was based on operational, environmental, infrastructure and training considerations, as well as the IDF's strategic vision to transfer some of its bases to the region.
In 2013, it was reported that Israel was building the infrastructure needed to accommodate F-35s, including hardened aircraft shelters, underground pens, and maintenance facilities. The IAF also ordered 30 M-346 trainer jets to train F-35 pilots.. Construction of a manufacturing facility to produce wings under license for the F-35 was expected to be completed by mid-2014. The site was to produce a total of 811 wing pairs. Initial orders of the F-35 were for 20 planes, with a total of 75 intended..
In May 2017, it was reported that the first customized F-35I test platform was expected to be delivered to Israel by 2020.
Former Israel Air Force chief Maj.-Gen. (res.) Amir Eshel has called the F-35 "game changing," saying that Israel gathered new intelligence during a single flight by the F-35 in early 2017 that other reconnaissance and intelligence gathering systems would take weeks to gather.
The IAF had received nine aircraft and declared the fleet operational on 6 December 2017.
Changes from standard F-35A A senior Israeli air force official stated, "the aircraft will be designated F-35I, as there will be unique Israeli features installed in them." The United States initially refused to allow the integration of Israel's own electronic warfare systems into the aircraft's built-in electronic suite. However, Israel planned the introduction of a plug-and-play feature added to the main computer to allow for the use of Israeli electronics in an add-on fashion, and to fit its own external jamming pod.Ben-David, Alon. "Israel To Buy F-35s With Cockpit Mods." Aviation Week, 27 August 2010. The IAF dispatched two officers to the US where they discussed issues involving the integration of Israeli technology into the fighter with Pentagon and Lockheed Martin officials.
In July 2011, it was reported that the U.S. had agreed to allow Israel to install its own electronic warfare systems and missiles in its F-35s in the future. In 2012 Lockheed was awarded a contract to make changes to the first Israeli F-35s to allow the installation of Israeli electronic warfare equipment produced by Elbit Systems.Majumdar, Dave. "Lockheed awarded $207 million contract to incorporate Israeli-specific F-35 systems." Flight International, 29 August 2012.. This equipment will use "specific apertures ... in the lower fuselage and leading edge".. Israel also plans to install its own indigenously produced guided bombs and air-to-air missiles in the F-35's internal weapons bay. Benni Cohen compared the Israel Aerospace Industries command and control system to an iPhone App that would run on top of the central avionics.
Israel Aerospace Industries was to manufacture the outer wings of Israel's F-35s. IAI may also play a role in the development of a proposed two-seat F-35. An IAI executive stated, "There is a known demand for two seats not only from Israel but from other air forces. Advanced aircraft are usually two seats rather than single seats."Trimble, Stephen. "Israel sets sights on two-seater F-35." FlightGlobal, 22 January 2010. The Israeli F-35s helmet-mounted displays were also to be manufactured in Israel.Shlachter, Barry. "Israeli air force chief unfazed by F-35 cost overruns." Star Telegram, 13 April 2012 This is part of the Offset agreement provided to Israel, in spite of the purchase being entirely funded by American aid.Dagoni, Ran. "Israel's F-35 demands draw sharp criticism." Globes, 24 August 2010.
In June 2012, Aviation Week quoted an IAF official stating that while the stealth of the F-35 in its current form was to be overcome in 5–10 years, the aircraft was planned to be in service for 30–40 years, and that is the reason that Israel insisted on the ability to make its own changes to the aircraft's electronic warfare systems."Israel, US Agree to $450 Million in F-35 EW Work." Av Week, 6 August 2012.
In March 2014, Channel 12 reported that during the U.S. outfitting of F-35As for nuclear weapons delivery, a senior U.S. official declined to comment on if Israel had requested similar modifications to its F-35Is.
On 9 December 2016, it was reported that the first 19 aircraft were to be delivered as standard F-35As with the remaining 31 to be fully equipped F-35Is.
Procurement timeline 2003 In 2003, Israel signed a formal letter of agreement, worth almost $20 million, to join the System Development and Demonstration (SDD) effort for the F-35 as a "security cooperation participant" (SCP).Dewitte, Lieven. "Israel inks LOA to join Joint Strike Fighter program." F-16.net, 31 July 2003. Retrieved 2 March 2010.
2006 The Israeli Air Force stated in 2006 that the F-35 was a key part of its recapitalization plans, and that Israel intended to buy over 100 F-35A fighters at an estimated cost of over $5 billion to replace their F-16s over time. "Israel Plans to Buy Over 100 F-35s." Defense Industry Daily, 27 June 2006. Retrieved 23 November 2009. Israel was reinstated as a partner in the development of the F-35 on 31 July 2006, after its participation was put on hold following the Chinese arms deal crisis.Guttman, Nathan. The Jerusalem Post, 22 May 2006. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
On 16 November 2006, Yaakov Katz of the Jerusalem Post reported that if no jet fighters were delivered to Israel between the last batch of F-16s in 2007 and the first F-35s in 2014 then the IAF would decline in numbers as older fighters wore out and were retired.Katz, Yaakov. "JPost: Security and Defense: Sky high." INSS, 16 November 2006. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
2010 On 1 June, it was reported that Rafael Advanced Defense Systems was developing smaller versions of the Python and Derby missiles for carriage within the aircraft, while Israel Military Industries was developing a penetration bomb in the same configuration as the Mk 82 500 lb bomb. However these were put off in order to rush the aircraft into operation as part of Israel's response to Iran's nuclear ambitions.Ben-David, Alon et al. "Affordability Curtails Initial Israel JSF Buy." Aviation week, 21 June 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010.
On 26 July 2010, Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak said that he would insist on Israeli industrial participation, including local electronic warfare parts, and weapons, during his trip to the United States.Zacharia, Janine. "Q&A with Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak." The Washington post, 23 July 2010. Retrieved 3 August 2010. Barak submitted a request to the Israeli cabinet for 20 F-35s for $2.75 billion to be delivered starting in 2015. This included the costs of setting up local firms to assemble the aircraft and manufacture spare parts.Katz, Yaakov "Barak approves purchase of F-35s." The Jerusalem post, 15 August 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2010. "Israel to buy world's most advanced warplane." Agence France-Presse, 15 August 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2010. The package was to be paid for with American military assistance. "US to Fund Israeli Purchase of 20 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters." Democracy now. Retrieved 16 August 2010.Heller, Aron. "Israel to Purchase F-35I Fighter Jets From US: Israel's defense minister approves multibillion dollar purchase of F-35I fighter jets from US." ABC News, 15 August 2010. Retrieved 16 August 2010.
Former head of the IAF, retired Major General Eitan Ben Eliyahu, called the American approval of the deal a key test of Israel – United States relations.Ramirez, Luis. "Israeli Purchase of Fighter Jets Seen as Litmus Test for Continued US Support." VOA news, 17 August 2010. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
The F-35 deal was pushed through, instead of upgrading the Israeli Air Force's F-15s and F-16s, in a bid to maintain Israel's technological advantage over Arab states. This approach adheres to the Israeli principle that Israel ought to be the first country in the Middle East to receive new fighter aircraft. The IAF was sufficiently committed to this principle to override protests from the leaders of Israeli defense contractors, who claimed that the deal would damage them. A number of members of the Israeli General Staff also criticized the high cost of the deal, which would reduce the funds available for investment in weapons for the land forces and navy.
These aircraft will be designated F-35I, as there will be unique Israeli features installed in them.Ben-David, Alon. "Israel To Buy F-35s With Cockpit Mods." Aviation Week, 27 August 2010. Retrieved 1 September 2010. The total price tag confirmed by Barak indicated that each aircraft costs about $96 million, with further expenses on training, simulators, spare parts, and the building of maintenance infrastructure. The first squadron of 20 F-35 jets, from the first production series, only included a few Israeli-made systems. The United States agreed to allow the installation of more Israeli-made systems if Israel purchased further F-35 squadrons from later production series. To sweeten the deal, Lockheed Martin said it would buy parts and systems for the F-35 from Israeli companies at a cost of $4 billion. Defense Ministry Director-General Udi Shani said that, apart from the jet's operational capacity, a significant factor in closing the deal included agreements that would include Israeli defense contractors in producing the F-35 for other clients.Pfeffer, Anshel. "Defense Minister Barak approves purchase of 20 F-35 fighters for around $2.75 billion." Haaretz,16 August 2010. Retrieved 20 August 2010.
Israel's three main areas of interest in customization were radar, electronic warfare and communications systems and independent maintenance capabilities.Katz, Yaakov. "Stealth power." The Jerusalem Post, 19 November 2010
Richard Genaille, deputy head of the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency, has said that installing different electronics on the F-35 would be very costly and "probably will not be in the best interest in the long run of" nations that make such changes.Wolf, Jim U.S. waits Japan nod on F-35 security pact Reuters, 9 September 2010
Israel's guarantees of more than US$4B of aerospace work in exchange for their purchase of 20 F-35s valued at US$2.7B, without any other industrial investment in the program has caused aerospace analysts to question what benefits countries who have invested in the F-35 program will receive. Norway, Denmark and Italy have all expressed concerns that the industrial benefits from the program may be insufficient to justify participation.