Israeli Air Force mulls deferring delivery of F-35 fighter

The Israel Air Force is considering whether to delay the delivery date of the F-35 fighter jet, fearing that first-batch production units will lack the advanced features it requires, local daily Ha'aretz reported Wednesday.

Under the terms of the 2.75-billion-U.S. dollar deal signed last October with manufacturer Lockheed Martin, delivery of the 20 units ordered by Israel will begin in late 2015 and is expected to last two years.

But the first jets that will roll off the assembly lines will most likely lack the advanced avionics, communications and radar capabilities that the IAF needs in order to maintain its technological superiority in the region, the report said.

The third-batch jets that will feature these capabilities will not be available before late 2016, a fact that presents the IAF brass with a dilemma of timing versus capabilities.

With Iran's nuclear program gradually progressing, the delivery timetable of the fifth-generation stealth jet was a critical factor in Israel's decision to procure it, for both bolstering its deterrence and preparing for a potential military strike.

Some objectors to the deal cited the original delivery date as already problematical.

"By the time these planes will arrive in Israel they will have no use for striking Iran," Yossi Melman, a veteran security affairs commentator, told Xinhua in early October.

The IAF and defense ministry representatives have visited the United States in the past two weeks to explore the possibility of receiving the F-35's upgraded version earlier than 2016, according to Wednesday's report.

Lockheed Martin, who views the deal with Israel as pivotal to the success of its efforts to market the jet to other foreign clients, said it remained convinced it will deliver battle-read F- 35s to the IAF on schedule.

Source: JERUSALEM, March 9 (Xinhua) -- English.news.cn 2011-03-09

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Related New:

Israel sets to buy F-35 fighters


Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak on Sunday nodded the purchase of 20 U.S.-built F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF).

The 3-billion-U.S.-dollar deal will make Israel the first foreign country to receive the advanced warplane, a fifth generation stealth fighter built by the U.S. defense company Lockheed Martin.

"The F-35 is the fighter plane of the future that will allow Israel to maintain its aerial superiority and its technological advantage in the region," Barak was quoted by local daily Ha'aretz as saying.

The purchase plan will be brought to the Israeli cabinet in the coming days for final approval.

Despite the plane's advantages, the Israelis were wavering because of the high cost of the aircraft, and a series of technological disagreements between the U.S. and Israel.

To iron out the contract, the U.S. has agreed that they will provide almost all of the maintenance within Israel, with only major repairs to be carried out elsewhere.

Besides, the Israeli defense companies will be allowed to become third-tier partners in the project.

The first planes will arrive in Israel in 2015.

Source: Editor: Mu Xuequan - JERUSALEM, Aug. 15 (Xinhua) -- English.news.cn 2010-08-15




(9.03.2011)