In a move to strengthen its Air Force capabilities amid a region marked by geopolitical tensions, Israel announced today the purchase of a new batch of 25 F-15IA fighters from the U.S. company Boeing. The news was shared by Israel’s Ministry of Defense, now led by Israel Katz following the dismissal of Yoav Gallant, via its social media channels.
This significant deal, worth over $5.2 billion, is part of the FMS (Foreign Military Sales) program, with initial aircraft deliveries expected to begin in 2031 at a rate of 4 to 6 units per year. It’s worth noting that since August, Israel has received U.S. authorization to acquire up to 50 new F-15IA fighters for a total of $18 billion, so a decision is still pending regarding the remaining planes held as a purchase option, as well as modernization kits for Israel’s current F-15I fleet.
Highlighting the importance of the purchase, Defense Ministry Director General Eyal Zamir stated: “This F-15 squadron, along with the third F-35 squadron acquired earlier this year, represents a historic enhancement of our air power and strategic reach—capabilities that proved crucial during the current war.”
In the meantime, as the Israeli Air Force awaits the arrival of its new combat aircraft, it’s useful to note that the F-15IA is essentially another name for Israel’s variant of the F-15EX Eagle II, which the U.S. Air Force is also adopting to replace its aging F-15C/D Eagles. This aircraft, which had its maiden flight in 2021, is notable for its range of up to 1,272 kilometers and its integration of the advanced AN/APG-82(V)1 AESA radar.
Delving into its features, the F-15IA can reach top speeds of up to Mach 2.5, thanks to its twin General Electric F110-GE-129 afterburning turbofan engines. These engines allow for a maximum takeoff weight of 37,000 kg, with part of this weight attributed to its BAE Systems AN/ALQ-250 Eagle Passive Active Warning Survivability System (EPAWSS) countermeasures, a 20mm M61 Vulcan rotary cannon, and an extensive array of weapon systems mounted on more than 23 hardpoints. This array includes AIM-9 Sidewinder, AIM-120 AMRAAM, and AGM-158 JASSM missiles, among others.
Images used for illustrative purposes
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