Israel is contemplating the acquisition of additional Boeing F-15Is to support its future combat requirements.
Although the country's air force investment is currently focused on the acquisition of 50 Lockheed Martin F-35s, Tel Aviv believes it needs more than one strike aircraft in its inventory.
During briefings ahead of the 12 December arrival of Israel’s first F-35s, air force officials indicated that they were considering buying more of the legacy Boeing fighters.
According to sources familiar with the matter, although the F-35’s stealth capabilities will be vital in the initial phase of a conflict, the air force will subsequently need an aircraft with a larger weapons load to operate alongside the Joint Strike Fighter.
F-15 production is likely to continue into the 2020s if a provisional 72-aircraft deal with Qatar can be concluded.
If Tel Aviv decides to purchase additional Strike Eagles, funding would be drawn from a recently approved military aid package from the USA, which is worth $38 billion over 10 years from 2019.
Source: FlightGlobal.com
