'Israel' to acquire 25 F-15I fighter jets by 2031: Report

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: The National Interest
Today 14:20
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"Israel" first acquired the F-15I fighter jets in the late 1990s, based on insights gained from the Gulf War.

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An Israeli Air Force F-15 warplane flies over during a graduation ceremony for a news pilot in Hatzerim Air Force base near the southern city of Beer al-Sabe’, occupied Palestine, on Thursday, June 29, 2023. (AP)

"Israel's" aerial power is set to grow even further, as Tel Aviv has recently signed a $5 billion deal to acquire an additional twenty-five F-15 fighter jets by 2031, an article published by The National Interest revealed. The deal, inked by the Israeli Security Ministry, includes twenty-five Boeing F-15IA fighter jets, with an option for an additional twenty-five.

As "Israel’s" specialized variant of the advanced F-15EX, these "Ra’am" fighters are often overshadowed by the fifth-generation F-35I Adir. Although the F-15I does not possess the F-35’s stealth, the platform offers greater range, which makes it essential for long-range strikes and air superiority missions, as per the report.

How will 'Israel' finance its F-15IA fighter jets deal with Boeing?

The Israeli Security Ministry's recent announcement of an agreement with Boeing to purchase 25 F-15IA fighter jets for $5.2 billion, with funding to be drawn from US military aid, raised several questions, primarily about whether US military aid to "Israel" would cover the latest procurement, the Israeli news website Globes reported last week.

According to the Watson Institute at Brown University, the US provided "Israel" with $17.9 billion in military aid during the first year of the war, significantly exceeding the formal annual aid package of $3.8 billion that Washington has committed to Tel Aviv, the news website highlighted.

It noted that among the $3.8 billion annually in military aid—$3.3 billion allocated for procurement and $500 million for joint air defense projects—along with other grants provided each year.

Globes added that the Israeli Security Ministry has stated that the delivery of the F-15IA fighter jets is expected to begin in 2031, with 4-6 aircraft delivered per year through 2035 under the most favorable scenario.

It pointed out that this raises further questions about the financial structure of the deal, particularly as the total investment exceeds the annual US aid to "Israel" by $1.4 billion.

So how will "Israel" finance the F-15IA deal?

The report suggested that payments to Boeing may be structured in installments.

In this regard, Globes cited Moti Besser, who served as a financial advisor to the Israeli occupation forces chief of staff and headed the Ministry of Security’s budget division from 1997 to 2000, as saying that "Israel" is unique in that US security aid enables it to commit to long-term contracts based on project milestones.

Besser highlighted that while other parties must pay for defense products upfront before delivery, "Israel has a different model that has been built over the years and allows for funding to be deployed over a long period of time and to take into account existing and future sources."

He explained that when a $5.2 billion contract is spread out, it doesn’t deplete accumulated aid but rather aligns with a multi-year funding flow that supports additional procurements.

It is noteworthy that since October last year, the Israeli Air Force has conducted relentless airstrikes in the region, killing more than 43,000 people in the Gaza Strip and more than 3,000 others in Lebanon, in addition to leveling civilian infrastructure.

Israeli aircraft have also been used in repeated assaults on Syria and Yemen, as well as Iran.

In late September, "Israel" received a new US military aid package totaling $8.7 billion.

Ido Nehushtan, president of Boeing Israel, pointed to the long-standing relationship with the Israeli occupation entity and confirmed the company's commitment to "working with the US and Israeli governments to deliver the advanced F-15IA aircraft through standard military procurement channels."