Share
Email
PrintBarak OKs purchase of U.S. fighter jets
JERUSALEM (JTA) -- Israel's defense minister has approved a $2.75 billion deal to purchase the world's most advanced warplane from the United States.
Ehud Barak on Sunday approved "in principle" the purchase of 20 U.S.-built F-35 warplanes, reportedly capable of evading radar. The fighters will be delivered between 2015 and 2017, Reuters reported.
A final approval by Israel's Cabinet is expected at the end of September.
Eight international partners that helped develop the plane already have signed purchase agreements. The countries are Canada, Turkey, Britain, Italy, Norway, Denmark, Australia and the Netherlands.
Israel's purchase would mark the first foreign military sale of the new military jet.
The deal between Israel and the United States has been in the works since September 2008, when the Pentagon approved the sale of 25 fighter jets with an option for 50 more.
Israel had been concerned initially that it would not be permitted access to some technologies of the aircraft.
Don't miss out! Get the JTA Daily Briefing delivered FREE to your inbox!
Click to login and write a letter to the editor.
This article was made possible by the support of readers like you. Donate to JTA now.
Featured Content
Need to know? Get JTA's free e-newsletters!
- Romney to meet with Jewish donors
- White House sets May 30 for Jewish Heritage
- Bulgaria’s economic crisis has its Jewish community facing harsh realities
- French railroad inks deal with Yad Vashem to research deportations
- Tel Aviv protest against African migrants turns violent
- Palestinian terror cells uncovered
- Haredi politician’s failure to shake hands riles female Belgian minister
- One-minute video calls for moment of silence at Olympics
