Israel announces purchase of 25 'next-generation' F-15 fighter jets from Boeing

The Israeli Defense Ministry announced on Thursday the signing of an agreement with Boeing for the acquisition of 25 “next-generation” F-15 fighter jets, financed by U.S. military aid to Israel.

The $5.2 billion agreement, which includes an option for a further 25 aircraft, calls for the fighter jets to be delivered in batches of four to six per year, starting in 2031, the ministry said in a statement. The new fighters, F-15IA, will be “equipped with state-of-the-art weapons systems, including the integration of advanced Israeli technologies,” the text states. “The modernized aircraft will feature a longer range, greater payload capacity and improved performance in a variety of operational scenarios,” according to the release.

'Historic reinforcement'

Since the start of the war with Hamas in the Gaza Strip on Oct. 7, 2023, Israel has concluded arms purchase agreements worth almost $40 billion, said Eyal Zamir, Director General of the Defense Ministry, quoted in the statement.

“While we focus on immediate requirements for advanced weaponry and munitions at unprecedented levels, we are simultaneously investing in long-term strategic capabilities,” said Zamir. “This F-15 squadron, along with the third F-35 squadron acquired earlier this year, represent a historic strengthening of our air power and strategic reach, capabilities that have proven crucial in the current war,” he added.

Israeli aircraft have been regularly pounding the Gaza Strip and southern Lebanon since the outbreak of war against Hamas on Oct. 7, 2023, following the Palestinian Islamist movement's bloody attack on Israel.

At the end of September, the Israeli Defense Ministry announced that it had secured a new package of U.S. military aid worth $8.7 billion, including $3.5 billion for the purchase of war materiel and equipment, and $5.2 billion to improve Israel's air defense systems.