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Last update - 05:30 10/11/2009
Most advanced, expensive fighter jet headed to Israel
By Amos Harel
Tags: Israel Air Force 

The largest defense deal in Israeli history, for the purchase of the F-35 stealth fighter aircraft, is advancing, slowly but surely.

The rounds of talks among the defense establishment, the Pentagon and manufacturer Lockheed-Martin have significantly narrowed the gaps between the parties.


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he United States is scheduled to respond next week to Israel's express request for 25 of the jets.

Jerusalem is to reach a final decision by early 2010, and there's a good chance a deal will be signed by the middle of the year.

Assuming Lockheed maintains its original production timetable the first fighters will be delivered in 2014.

Two years later, Israel will have its first operational squadron of F-35s, consisting of 25 fighter aircraft representing the cutting edge of U.S. technology (Israel's too, it is hoped), capable of any mission. Iran too?

Ready for Iran, if they stay still

Of course, assuming that Iran's nuclear installations are still waiting there by the time Israel has the appropriate aircraft.

Of course, this is one of the main questions surrounding the deal. When discussions began on the procurement of the F-35 it was clear that it was necessary if Israel was to have a response to the Iranian threat.

This is the main argument for buying the aircraft, especially in light of the fact that it now seems likely that Tehran will eventually the S-300 advanced air defense system from Russia, making stealth capability all the more important for Israeli fighters.

In the meantime, however, the timetables have diverged: Unless stopped, Iran's nuclear program may reach maturation within two years, but the delivery date for the F-35 is still far away. Some senior Israeli army officers are citing this in their call to delay the purchase.

They argue that it will use up most of the U.S. military aid to Israel without being on hand when needed.

They say urgent projects for the land forces should be advanced instead, and the remaining funds invested in the navy and in refurbishing older aircraft.

The Americans, in their discussions, raised two problems with this option: A delay would prevent Israeli defense industries from getting involved in the project at an early stage and earning money from the sale of systems incorporated into the F-35.

And if Israel delays its order then other countries will move up on the list for deliveries, and there will be no guarantee that it will receive delivery according to its timetable - even if that is in 2016. One concern is that by then other countries in the Middle East will also begin acquiring the aircraft.

Cutting the specialized Israeli suite

In the meantime, the Americans have eased their stance on Israel's request to include locally made electronics systems. A major issue in this would be the cost of the specialized "suite" Israel would like to develop for its order of F-35s.

This makes the aircraft more expensive, but much of the price also depends on the volume. For example, if the price of 25 aircraft, including many other components, comes to $130 million each, then an order of 75 may lower the per-unit price to $100 million.

The head of the Planning Directorate of the Israel Defense Forces, Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, told Haaretz in September that in any event the cost of a single aircraft is expected to be much lower than $130 million, which he described as "exaggerated."

The decision on this acquisition is one of the most important for the budgets of both the state and the IDF, as well as the future shape of the military.

As in the past, it will be made by a limited group of people, with limited transparency, little control by civilians and without public debate.

The government has not really dealt with the issue and it is doubtful whether it will do so in the future.

These matters are usually agreed upon among the IDF chief of staff, the Israel Air Force commander, the defense minister and the director general of the defense ministry.
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  1.   Teaching Respect 06:12  |  Hugh 10/11/09
  2.   between a rock and a hard spot; whatever shall we do? 06:26  |  eric 10/11/09
  3.   woohooo!!! 06:38  |  shuebydoo 10/11/09
  4.   Guess who is going to pay for it? 06:43  |  Cynic #2 10/11/09
  5.   The only course of action open 06:45  |  Mark Lincoln 10/11/09
  6.   25 F-25 06:46  |  Victor 10/11/09
  7.   It is, after all, Lockheed 06:48  |  Mark Lincoln 10/11/09
  8.   It still won`t help for an attack on Iran, bummer heh heh... 06:54  |  BBSNews 10/11/09
  9.   A Bargain @ $125 Million 07:36  |  Mark of Lewiston 10/11/09
  10.   weapons to kill the Gaza and Libanese people 07:52  |  sami abu ismail 10/11/09
  11.   One small problem... 08:00  |  American 10/11/09
  12.   F35 is designed for US & NATO needs not Israels 08:03  |  zionist forever 10/11/09
  13.   Why should the US taxpayer fund IAI to build avionic 08:06  |  Dekel 10/11/09
  14.   buy vs give 08:19  |  David G. 10/11/09
  15.   Yes Sami, The Arab People are Victims of their Leaders` Arrogance 08:34  |  B`galil 10/11/09
  16.   #6. easy answr. make peace and the only enemy will be islamic ext 08:35  |  ralph 10/11/09
  17.   Sami abu 08:54  |  Brad 10/11/09
  18.   Field testing 09:13  |  To the cynics 10/11/09
  19.   F-22 Disaster Mark Lincoln 09:58  |  Mark of Lewiston 10/11/09
  20.   I`m curious how this is "news" 09:59  |  Johnboy 10/11/09
  21.   #17 I`m sure every Banana Republic will pore over the reports 10:14  |  Johnboy 10/11/09
  22.   #13 It is indeed a unique arrangement, Dekel 10:26  |  Johnboy 10/11/09
  23.   Time to cut off aid 10:26  |  Ki`emli 10/11/09
  24.   #5 less than promised at far higher cost? mark, are you kidding? 10:36  |  eric 10/11/09
  25.   Deterrence has historically prevented the onslaught 10:55  |  ankhfnkhonsu 10/11/09
  26.   The counter measures will soon turn F-35 into an expensive Lemon. 11:14  |  Mark 10/11/09
  27.   JOHNBOY No you lose,countless Arab jet fighters destroyed by IAF 11:24  |  PETER SM 10/11/09
  28.   # 12 zionist 11:32  |  Axel 10/11/09
  29.   # 18 to the cynics 11:35  |  Axel 10/11/09
  30.   # 25 kiemli 11:38  |  Axel 10/11/09
  31.   # 24 eric 11:42  |  Axel 10/11/09
  32.   Why worry about cost, the US Congress will give them to Israel 11:47  |  Lese Majeste 10/11/09
  33.   #32 You appear to be behind the times, Lese Majeste 13:07  |  Johnboy 10/11/09
  34.   #12 You really don`t understand, do you, zf? 13:16  |  Johnboy 10/11/09
  35.   L MEJESTE Check your "sources` 13:17  |  PETER SM 10/11/09
  36.   Israel should abandon the deal 13:19  |  steve from raleigh 10/11/09
  37.   Dangerous loss of US technology 13:43  |  jens 10/11/09
  38.   Israel testing bed for US weapons 13:44  |  Tcherkessi 10/11/09
  39.   #38 tcherkessi 14:03  |  Axel 10/11/09
  40.   #8 BBS News; Heh, heh while Americans die. 14:38  |  Ian Robertson 10/11/09
  41.   Israel and the US both have a big decision to make 14:54  |  Raymond in DC 10/11/09
  42.   Mark of Lewiston Fiasco-22 vs F-35 16:41  |  Mark Lincoln 10/11/09
  43.   eric - less 16:53  |  Mark Lincoln 10/11/09
  44.   to #11 American 21:09  |  I can read 10/11/09
  45.   BBSNews: more than 1 way to skin a cat 01:33  |  AGM-142 11/11/09
  46.   #27 I put in the necessary rider, PETER SM 03:10  |  Johnboy 11/11/09
  47.   Axel doesn`t even disguise his antisemitism these days 08:52  |  Peter Williams 11/11/09
  48.   #31 & 43 axel and mark, if you`d watched the video 10:32  |  eric 11/11/09
  49.   to #49 05:43  |  Norman 16/11/09
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