The Israeli Ministry of Defense has announced the purchase of 25 F-15IA fighter planes from Boeing, with an option to acquire an additional 25 jets.
This agreement, valued at $5.2 billion and funded through US military aid, was announced on November 7, 2024. The first F-15IA is expected to be delivered in 2031, with subsequent deliveries occurring at a rate of four to six units per year. The new fleet will incorporate homegrown Israeli technologies.
The F-15IA is the Israeli designation for the F-15EX Eagle II. Powered by new F110-GE-129 engines, it features a digital cockpit, upgraded radar and electronic warfare systems, and improved communication with F-35 jets. It will also be capable of carrying up to 24 air-to-air missiles.
“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 Israeli Ministry of Defense, Major General Eyal Zamir, commented.
In addition to the order of 50 F-15IA fighters approved in August 2024, the US Secretary of State also greenlit the upgrade of 25 existing F-15I aircraft. The F-15I Ra’am is a locally adapted variant of the F-15E Strike Eagle that has been in operation with the Israeli Air Force since the early 1990s.
In June 2024, the Biden administration reportedly approved the provision of 25 additional F-35I ‘Adir’ fighter-bombers. This follows a request issued by the Israeli Air Force on September 3, 2023, to allow the creation of a third squadron of F-35 Lightning II fighter jets, bringing the total fleet to 75 aircraft.