Posted on 01/29/2018 7:52:44 PM PST by sukhoi-30mki
An Israeli Air Force F-15 on an exercise. Ilan Assayag
The Israel Air Force is to decide in a few months between purchasing a third squadron of F-35 fighter jets or the F-15I, which, while less advanced, has other advantages.
The acquisition requires the approval of the General Staff and a ministerial committee, but the recommendation of the air force generally carries the day.
IAF Commander Maj. Gen. Amikam Norkin, who reportedly is leaning toward the F-15, is to submit a recommendation in May.
Israel and the United States agreed last year on the purchase of 50 F-35 fighters, two squadrons, from Lockheed Martin, with delivery completed by 2024.
Nine jets have been delivered so far, and the IAF recently announced that they have reached initial operational capability.
The rapid aging of the IAF’s current fleet makes the new purchases necessary. The air force is still using some fighter planes bought in the late 1970s, and despite a number of upgrades the IAF will retire them.
(Excerpt) Read more at haaretz.com ...
(negotiating ploy)
“Well see, we were just looking at the costs of these, and just really need to save some money)
:D
I don’t see how they benefit from an F35 given the capabilities of their neighbors. The opponent we face is the Chinese and Russkies.
The F-15 is quite a machine.
Good choice.. F35 is junk :p
Bring back the F22.
Israel always upgrades and improves any and everything they purchase for their military!!!
All though there are many that are exceptional, the F-15, the A-10 and the B-52 are probably the best military aircraft ever made.
Why would anyone want to replace the greatest air superiority fighter - that has never lost and air-to-air engagement, EVER - with an unproven Iphone X of an aircraft that costs X times more is way beyond my reasoning skills.
The IAF has to actually win air battles with their fighters. They can’t screw around with a slow dog like the F-35 that’s got some serious restrictions.
“I don’t see how they benefit from an F35 given the capabilities of their neighbors. “
The Saudis have F-15s. The Turks have F-16s. They are a both a coup away from having a very very hostile enemy with top shelf fighters.
The 35 is at a bad disadvantage in that case.
I think that they know a dead horse when they see it. They probably know that the F35 is a flying brick and especially since they had theirs for a while now and has thoroughly gone over it.
If you'd like to be on or off, please FR mail me.
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