Israel Is Purchasing 25 F-15 Fighter Aircraft From Boeing For $5.2 Billion
Amid the continuing conflicts in South Lebanon and the Gaza Strip the Israeli Ministry of Defense (IMOD) is continuing to acquire new equipment. So far Tel Aviv have ordered a third batch of F-35s (consisting of 25 aircraft) from Lockheed Martin in June 2024, and has now signed a critical agreement to purchase the latest generation of F-15, the F-15IA from another American aviation giant, Boeing.
According to a statement from the Israeli Ministry of Defense, the deal, was finalized on 7 November, following negotiations between ‘the Israel Ministry of Defense’s Mission to the U.S. and Boeing in collaboration with the Israeli Air Force,’ involves the purchase of 25 F-15IA fighter jets for a total of $5.2 billion. The deal, reportedly ‘part of a larger U.S. aid package approved by the U.S. Administration and Congress earlier this year,’ also includes an option to purchase an additional 25 aircraft.
Commenting on the agreement, which marks a milestone in deepening defense cooperation between Israel and the United States, Major General (retired) Eyal Zamir, Director General of IMOD, said:
“We are executing a comprehensive strategy to enhance the operational capabilities of the IDF. We’ve secured supply agreements totaling nearly $40 billion [approximately 150 billion NIS] since the start of the war. While we focus on meeting the immediate needs for modern weapons and ammunition at unprecedented levels, we are simultaneously investing in long-term strategic capabilities. This F-15 squadron, along with the third F-35 squadron purchased earlier this year, represents a historic improvement in our airpower and strategic reach—capabilities that have proven critical in the current war.”
The Israeli Air Force will begin taking delivery of the jets, which “will be equipped with cutting-edge weapon systems, including the integration of state-of-the-art Israeli technologies” from 2031, and the procurement will be completed in 2036. The arrival of the new jets will double the IAF’s Eagle squadron, locally designated F-15I, and pave the way for decommissioning aging F-16s.
The Israeli Air Force has 25 F-15I Ra’am variants in service. These aircraft are operated by 69 Squadron ‘Hammers’ based at Hatzerim Air Base, located at the northern end of the Negev Desert in the country’s southern region. In addition to the F-15I Ra’am configuration, the IAF still operates several older Eagles in A/B/C/D variants.
On several occasions, the Israeli Air Force has modified the F-15 aircraft, which it has been operating since the 1970s, and still requests the U.S. to modernize its aging Eagle fleet. Although Israel has 5th generation Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning IIs, the main reason why Israel insists on the old F-15s is that they have more range than any other fighter aircraft in its fleet. In addition, the potential of these aircraft to carry a large number of air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons, including hypersonic missiles, is among the other factors that attract Israel, given the Iranian threat.