Israel's Defense Ministry has announced today that it has approved the purchase of a third squadron of Lockheed Martin F-35 military fighter jets. The sale concerns 25 aircraft for a value of 3 billion dollars. This additional purchase will bring the number of aircraft of this model in service in the Tel Aviv Armed Forces fleet to 75.

The agreement will be economically supported by the United States, through a package of loans specifically destined by Washington for the defense of Tel Aviv. Israel was the first country outside the US to acquire and operate the F-35 aircraft in May 2018. The relationship has intensified with the involvement of the Israeli defense industry in the production of components for these aircraft by Lockheed Martin and Pratt & Whitney.