According to the Jerusalem Post, citing a statement by a representative of the Israeli Armed Forces, although no technical malfunctions were found on Israeli aircraft, by decision of the US Air Force, the delivery of two Adir F-35s was postponed for additional technical control.
In September 2008, the US Department of Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified the US Congress of the possible sale of F-25A fighter jets in the version of F-35A fighter jets with the option of additional purchase 50 aircraft ORP version or with short takeoff and vertical landing (KVVP), as well as contract-related services and equipment. The total cost of the delivery program could be 15,2 billion.
The purchase order under the Foreign Military Sales program of the first X-NUMX F-19A fighters worth $ 35 billion. The Israel Defense Ministry placed the 2,75 of the year in October. The assembly of the first F-2010A "Adir" began on January 35 7.
For economic reasons, it was decided to split the second batch of aircraft into two tranches. 22 February 2015, the Israel Defense Ministry signed a second contract worth 2,82 billion, providing for the delivery of X-NUMX F-14A fighters, as well as related equipment and services.
At the end of November 2016, the inter-ministerial security committee of the Israeli government (military-political cabinet) approved the acquisition of another 17 F-35. At the end of August 2017, a delegation sent to the USA by the Israeli Defense Ministry signed an agreement on the purchase of an additional F-17 “Adir” 35. Thus, the total number ordered by Israel F-35A increased to 50 units.
To date, the Israeli Air Force received five aircraft. The first pair of F-35A landed at the 12 2016 December 23 airbase. Three more fighters arrived in Israel on 2017 on April 35. It was assumed that the next two new F-35A will arrive in Israel until the end of August (the date was postponed), two more - by November. The initial readiness of F-7 for combat use is scheduled to be announced on December 2017 XNUMX.
All fighters of the first batch will be delivered in 2018 year, the second - to 2021 year.
Despite the fact that the F-35 is advertised as the most advanced fighter in the world, a large number of failures were identified during the tests, which caused delays in delivery. In June, the US Air Force suspended flights of all F-35 at the US Air Force Base Luke (units of Arizon) after complaints from pilots about symptoms of hypoxia in flight. Only the presence of an oxygen generation backup system allowed them to land safely. Previously, the use of an aircraft ejection system was associated with the risk of injury and even death for pilots weighing less than 62 kg (136 pounds). The flaws were found in the cooling system of the aircraft, which led to the suspension of F-35 flights by the US Air Force two months after the announcement of their combat readiness.