Israel's 'Post-Oct. 7' Strategy: F-35 and F-15IA Next-Generation Fighter Fleet to Be Doubled

[Financial News] The Israeli government has announced a large-scale plan to expand its air power, a move expected to reshape the country's national security landscape.
To respond to the changed security environment after Hamas's surprise attack on Oct. 7, 2023, it decided to purchase 75 next-generation fighter jets and double the fleet size from the original plan.
On the 3rd local time, The Jerusalem Post reported that the Ministry of Defense of Israel, through the Ministerial Committee on Procurement, approved doubling Lockheed Martin's F-35 fleet from 50 to 100 aircraft and Boeing's latest F-15IA fleet from 25 to 50.
The contract, worth tens of billions of shekels, includes not only the aircraft themselves but also an integrated system for logistics support, maintenance and parts supply.
In the past, there was fierce debate in Israel over which aircraft to buy with limited budgets: the stealth-capable F-35 or the heavily armed F-15IA.
After two wars with Iran over the past year, securing uninterrupted military readiness has emerged as the top priority.
Accordingly, the Benjamin Netanyahu government decided to increase the defense budget by 350 billion shekels, or about 175 trillion won, over the next 10 years. Annual defense spending has also been sharply raised from less than 100 billion shekels to around 150 billion shekels, or about 75 trillion won.
Israel Katz, Minister of Defense, said, "This procurement is a strategic cornerstone for addressing security threats over the next decade," adding, "We will continue to maintain the overwhelming superiority of the Israeli Air Force."
The expansion plan is a core part of the so-called Israel's Shield plan. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "Israel is stronger than ever, and it must be overwhelmingly stronger than its enemies," adding, "Our pilots are ready to reach anywhere in the skies over Iran."
Israel currently operates 48 F-35s and is set to receive all 50 aircraft from its original order by the end of this year.
From 2027, the additional aircraft under contract will be delivered in stages, eventually bringing the fleet to 100.
The 50 F-15IAs, which will replace aging F-15 models, are scheduled to enter full operational deployment by the early to mid-2030s. The Jerusalem Post also reported that Israel has already signed a contract to acquire four Boeing KC-46 Pegasus aerial refueling tankers to support long-range strike capabilities.

jjyoon@fnnews.com Yoon Jae-joon Reporter