Two of Lockheed Martin’s F-35s, the most advanced fighter jet in the region, arrived in Israel on Monday. Israel has ordered 50 of them from the United States. Each has a price tag of more than $100 million.
That was reported by cnn.com.
An elaborate ceremony at Nevatim in southern Israel was delayed several hours because poor weather kept the F-35s from taking off from Italy for the flight to Israel.
In attendance were U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Speaking shortly before the planes landed, Netanyahu thanked Carter and President Barack Obama.
On June 22, 2016, the Israeli Air Force received the first F-35A Adir for Israel at a ceremony at the Fort Worth, Texas, F-35 factory. The program promotes further sharing of technology and knowledge between countries, as well as opportunities in manufacturing for Israel’s sophisticated defense industry.
With the Israel Air Force planning to decommission its fleet of aging F-15s and F-16s, the F-35 will continue to ensure the country’s global competitiveness.
