Amid the tensions in the Middle East, the United States government has authorized the potential sale of 50 new F-15IA fighter-bombers to the Israeli Air Force. The significant package approved by the Department of Defense, which also includes the provision of modernization kits for the current F-15s in service with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), amounts to over $18 billion. This is according to the recent notification sent to the U.S. Congress for approval through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program.
In recent years, the Israeli government has requested various military equipment from the U.S. This has included requests for new F-15EX fighter-bombers manufactured by Boeing, as well as new KC-46A Pegasus refueling aircraft. Although these efforts have been ongoing for the past months and years, the current tensions with Iran, anticipating a potential large-scale attack on Israeli territory, seem to have accelerated the decision of the U.S. government.
According to the document published by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), the Israeli government requested the sale of up to 50 new F-15IA fighter-bombers, along with 25 kits for modernizing the existing F-15I aircraft in service. The total value of the deal, with Boeing as the primary supplier, reaches $18.82 billion.
As is common with such high-value authorizations from the Department of State, in addition to various components of the future aircraft, such as F110-GE-129 engines and AESA APG-82(V)1 radars, the package also includes AN/AAQ-13 LANTIRN navigation pods and advanced LAU-128 missile launchers, to name a few examples included in the August 13 publication.
The State Department has stated that: “The addition of the F-15IA to the Israeli Air Force’s combat aircraft fleet will enhance Israel’s interoperability with U.S. systems and strengthen Israel’s air capabilities to address current and future enemy threats, bolster its internal defense, and serve as a deterrent against regional threats. Israel will have no difficulty integrating these items and services into its armed forces.”
The F-15IA is essentially the designation that the new F-15EX Eagle II aircraft will receive in the Israeli Air Force, which are being gradually introduced into the U.S. Air Force (USAF); with the seventh and eighth aircraft slated for delivery in June of this past year. With their addition, the Israeli Air Force will complete the retirement program of the older F-15C/D Eagles, complementing the F-22 and F-35A fighter fleets.
*Photographs used for illustration purposes.
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