Israel signs $5.2bn deal to acquire US F-15 fighter jets

The Israeli army has signed a $5.2bn agreement with Boeing Co to acquire 25 next generation F-15 fighter jets as part of a package of US aid approved earlier this year, Reuters reported citing the Israeli defence ministry.

The delivery of the new aircraft is due to begin in 2031, with four to six scheduled to be delivered annually, the ministry said, adding that the fighter jets will have increased range and payloads.

"These advantages will enable the Israeli Air Force to maintain its strategic superiority in addressing current and future challenges in the Middle East," the ministry said.

"This F-15 squadron, alongside the third F-35 squadron procured earlier this year, represents a historic enhancement of our air power and strategic reach - capabilities that proved crucial during the current war," the director-general of the defence ministry, Eyal Zamir, said.

Since Israel's onslaught on Gaza on 7 October 2023, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has secured nearly $40bn worth of arms deals with the US. 

"While focusing on immediate needs for advanced weaponry and ammunition at unprecedented levels, we're simultaneously investing in long-term strategic capabilities," Zamir said.