Exclusive: IAF considering acquisition of stealth fighter jet

Maariv International ^ | 10 May, 2004 | Amir Buhbut

[yonif]

The Israeli Air Force has not yet received all the modern F-16i Sufa (Storm) fighter jets purchased from the US, but plans are already underway for acquiring the advanced jets that will replace them.

Earlier, the IAF signed a mega deal with Lockheed Martin, acquiring 102 F-16i fighter jets, considered the most advanced in the world. The planes will arrive in Israel by 2008 and will be put into operational use.

Even so, Air Force officials are already closely examining the F-35, the third generation of US stealth aircraft. The fighter jet is described as revolutionary, and is capable of low-altitude flight and dodging enemy radar.

The F-35 has been considered by the IAF in the past, but was eventually rejected since its construction was slated to be completed at an unrealistic date for IDF needs. However, the project is in advanced stages now and the army is closely monitoring its progress.

"Until now the project was just in its research and development stage. Now the situation is different, we are now talking about the most developed futuristic fighter jet in the world", a senior air force source told Maariv.

"It is much different than previous stealth planes. The new plane is special because of its diverse capabilities as oppose to the ones that came before it. In this era of budget cuts in the air force, this plane is relatively cheap and its maintenance cost is much lower compared to previous models", the source said.

[yonif]

Ping.

[EQAndyBuzz]

My god. Israel with a stealth jet. Think of all the good things that could be done with that puppy.

[GaltMeister]

Too cool! I wonder if they will let JF'nK fly it 5 feet over the desert.

[Dog Gone]

I'm a little uncomfortable with sharing our most futuristic technology with any other country, even Israel. We should keep the best stuff in the world for ourselves.

[michaelt]

The F-35 is going to be sold to a lot of nations already, as a replacement for the F-16.

[Dog Gone]

We're going to sell the most futuristic stealth fighter to a lot of nations? I hope they remain our friends.

[GalaxieFiveHundred]

X-35, prototype of the F-35

[Last Dakotan]

...all the modern F-16i Sufa (Storm) fighter jets purchased from the US,..

Purchased with our money. Personally I don't mind the massive amounts of aid going to Israel, but let's get a little credit for it!

[finnman69]

Good for bombing small headed dictators and Iranian nuclear facilities.

[mench]

Agree with you.

[Question_Assumptions]

This is the F-35, not the F-22. It's an F-16/F-18/Harrier replacement, not the F-15 replacement.

[NJ_gent]

"I'm a little uncomfortable with sharing our most futuristic technology with any other country, even Israel. We should keep the best stuff in the world for ourselves."

Agreed. You never know just how fast things can change in the space of 10 or 15 years. We gave chemical weapons to Saddam, only to worry whether they were going to be used against our own troops in Gulf I and Gulf II. Even if Israel remains friendly for all time, this merely increases the chances of a foreign intelligence service gaining access to our most advanced technology. If someone's going to get a peek at what we have up our sleeves, I'd rather it be because we slipped up.

[KellyAdmirer]

I like this, but I also wonder what use it will be against tunnel diggers, suicide-belt wearers, and rock throwers.

[Flashman_at_the_charge]

Don't forget how cozy Israel is with China. They nearly sold the Phalcon airborne early-warning radar to them and only didn't under intense pressure from the US.

[beelzepug]

"I'm a little uncomfortable with sharing our most futuristic technology with any other country, even Israel."

Our only real ally is us. I don't trust Israel any more than I trust any other country. Remember Jonathan Pollard. Everybody is your friend as long as you've got your checkbook out.

[Dog Gone]

Good point. I'm all in favor of making sure that Israel has the arms necessary to protect itself. But it isn't the 51st state in the union.

[O.C. - Old Cracker]

Nah, Israel's our friend as long as we continue to support her as we should.

[freeeee]

our friend as long as we continue to support her

That's an odd definition of "friend".

[Little Ray]

We sold (gave) E-2C Hawkeyes to the Israelis and now they tried to peddle their own home-grown version to the PRC. Likewise, the next generation of PRC jet fighter will be based off the Israeli Lavi, which, in turn was an attempt to pirate the F-16 (like they did the Mirage).
I like the Israelis and support 'em against the Palis, but the only nation Israel is friends with, is Israel. They should definitely NOT get F-35s...