Israel has approved plans to acquire two new fighter squadrons, including a fourth F-35 squadron from Lockheed Martin and a second F-15IA squadron from Boeing.
The Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) on May 5, 2026, said the Ministerial Committee on Procurement approved the acquisitions as part of the Israel Defense Forces’ decade-long force buildup plan.
A fighter squadron typically includes roughly two dozen aircraft, though the exact number planned for the Israeli Air Force squadrons was not disclosed. The deals are valued at least $6 billion and include fleet integration into the Israeli Air Force, sustainment, spare parts and logistics support.
The ministry described the approval as the first step in executing the IDF’s long-term buildup plan, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz approved under a dedicated $119 billion budget.
Following the committee approval, IMOD Director General Maj. Gen. Amir Baram directed the ministry’s mission to the US to move ahead with finalizing the agreements with American government and military counterparts.
The approval adds to two of the Israeli Air Force’s most important future combat aircraft programs. Israel already operates the F-35I Adir, a customized Israeli version of the Lockheed Martin F-35. The F-15IA, based on Boeing’s advanced F-15EX, is intended to give Israel additional range, payload and strike capacity alongside its stealth fighter fleet.
IMOD said the new squadrons will form a central part of the IDF’s long-term force development plans and are intended to preserve Israel’s air superiority as the country prepares for evolving regional threats.
Katz said the acquisitions are central to Israel’s broader force buildup effort, which he described as the “Shield of Israel” plan.
“Operation Roaring Lion once again demonstrated the Israeli Air Force’s power and its decisive role in protecting Israel,” Katz said, referring to Israel’s 2026 war with Iran. “The lessons of that campaign require us to keep pressing forward on force buildup, to ensure air superiority for decades to come.”
Katz said the plan will require the Israeli Air Force to integrate autonomous flight capabilities, next-generation defense systems and expanded military capabilities in space.
“Our mission is clear: to ensure the IDF has the tools, capabilities, and strength to operate anywhere, at any time,” Katz said.
Baram said the committee’s approval marked the first major step in carrying out the defense budget’s mandates.
“Alongside immediate wartime procurement needs, we have a responsibility to act now to secure the IDF’s military edge 10 years from now and beyond,” Baram said.
He said the F-35 and F-15IA squadrons will give the Israeli Air Force complementary capabilities and greater flexibility across a broad range of combat scenarios.
The announcement comes as Israel continues to expand major US-backed aircraft programs. IMOD announced separately that Israel’s Gideon KC-46 tanker aircraft recently completed its maiden flight in the United States.
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