Letter Of Offer And Acceptance Signed By Israeli Defense Director

Israeli Ministry of Defense Director General (Maj. Gen. Ret.) Udi Shani has signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the procurement of F-35 Lightning II aircraft Thursday in New York. Israel will be the first country to receive the F-35 through the United States government’s Foreign Military Sales process.

The agreement, drafted in August, is for 20 JSF aircraft worth $2.75 billion.

“This is another step in the longstanding relationship between Lockheed Martin and the nation of Israel. The Lightning II will strengthen Israel’s national security posture both militarily and industrially” said Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and general manager of F-35 Program Integration.

“This is (an) historic event and a new era in Israel’s security and strategic strength which will allow Israel to maintain its military qualitative edge in order to cope with the challenges both near and far for many years; the deal also holds tremendous importance for the national economy through the manufacturer’s commitment to purchase billions of dollars worth of equipment from Israeli industries”, Shani said during the signing ceremony. He added that it is Israel’s intention to acquire additional F-35s “We have an option to purchase more aircraft”, he noted, adding that “the deal is an additional expression of the strategic alliance and of our friendly relations with the United States, and of their support of the Israeli qualitative edge.”

Delivery is scheduled to begin in 2015 and should last two years. The agreement was signed upon approval by the government, the Knesset and the Ministry of Defense.

File Photo

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations, advanced sustainment, and lower operational and support costs.

Lockheed Martin is developing the F-35 with its principal industrial partners, Northrop Grumman and BAE Systems. Two separate, interchangeable F-35 engines are under development: the Pratt & Whitney F135 and the GE Rolls-Royce Fighter Engine Team F136.

FMI: http://dover.idf.il/IDF/English/