By FrumNews.com

Yerushalayim, Eretz Yisroel — The Israeli Air Force is doubling down on the F-35I and F-15IA fighter aircraft, moving forward with a new order for two more combat squadrons.

The Israeli government approved ​a plan to purchase two new combat squadrons of F-35 and F-15IA advanced fighter aircraft from ‌Lockheed Martin and Boeing in a deal worth tens of billions of dollars, the defense ministry said.

The deal, approved by Israel’s Ministerial Committee on Procurement (IMOD), is a first step in a 350 billion shekel ($119 billion) plan and broader strategy to “strengthen readiness ahead of a demanding decade for Israeli security.”

IMOD’s plan is to simultaneously acquire two new fighter squadrons of Lockheed Martin and Boeing aircraft, including:

• Lockheed Martin F-35I “Adir”: Israel will purchase a fourth squadron of 25 stealth fighters. This will eventually bring the total Israeli F-35 fleet to 100 aircraft.
• Boeing F-15IA: Israel will purchase a second squadron of 25 aircraft. This follows a previous agreement from December 2025 for the first 25 units. The F-15IA is a specialized version of the U.S. F-15EX Eagle II.

The new squadrons will “serve as a cornerstone of the IDF’s long-term force development, addressing evolving regional threats and preserving Israel’s strategic air superiority.”

In past Israeli operations, including Operation Roaring Lion, not a single Israeli aircraft was shot down over Iran, Syria or Lebanon. Additionally, an IAF F-35I “Adir” fighter jet shot down an Iranian Air Force YAK-130 fighter jet — the first shootdown in history of a manned fighter aircraft by an F-35 “Adir” fighter jet.

“Operation Roaring Lion reinforced just how critical the U.S.-Israel strategic relationship is, and how essential advanced air power remains,” IMOD Director General Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram said. “The complementary capabilities of these two squadrons will give the Israeli Air Force the flexibility to handle a broad range of combat scenarios.”

“Alongside immediate wartime procurement needs, we have a responsibility to act now to secure the IDF’s military edge ten years from now and beyond,” Baram added.

Following the Committee’s approval, the Director General directed the IMOD’s Mission to the U.S. to move forward with finalizing the agreements with American government and military counterparts in the coming period.

“Operation Roaring Lion once again demonstrated the Israeli Air Force’s power and its decisive role in protecting Israel,” Defense Minister Israel Katz said. “The lessons of that campaign require us to keep pressing forward on force buildup, to ensure air superiority for decades to come. The F-35 and F-15IA acquisitions are central to the ‘Shield of Israel’ plan, which is designed to give the IDF a lasting qualitative edge.”

“As part of this plan, the Israeli Air Force will be expected to lead a major technological leap – integrating autonomous flight capabilities, next-generation defense systems, and establishing Israeli military dominance, both defensive and offensive, in space,” Katz continued. “Our mission is clear: to ensure the IDF has the tools, capabilities, and strength to operate anywhere, at any time. We will continue to invest, to grow stronger, and to stay ahead of our enemies – to keep Israel secure today and in the future.”

The Israeli government has lobbied against the US selling F-35 aircraft to its foes and Turkey. The Saudi order is despite objections from Israel and Jewish groups in the US.

“Arming such a regime with the most advanced stealth fighter jets carries risks that are just too high for today’s Middle East,” Moshe Phillips, chairman of Americans for a Safe Israel (AFSI), wrote in an op-ed on FrumNews.com. “Friendly-to-America strongmen rulers can be toppled, policies can shift overnight, and weapons placed in their hands can quickly be beyond U.S. influence or control.”