Article Posted on : - Oct 12, 2010

Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. Photo: Lockheed Martin

TEXAS (BNS): The Government of Israel has selected Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II as the country’s next-generation fighter aircraft.

Israeli Air Force will procure the F-35 aircraft under the United States government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme.

Israel will be the first country to receive the F-35 through the FMS process. Israeli Ministry of Defense Director General (Maj. Gen. Ret.) Udi Shani has already signed the Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the procurement of the F-35 aircraft in New York.

“We’re very pleased with the Government of Israel’s decision to move forward with the US government’s Letter of Offer and Acceptance for the F-35,” Tom Burbage, Lockheed Martin executive vice president and general manager of F-35 Program Integration, said in a company statement.

“The Lightning II will strengthen Israel’s national security posture both militarily and industrially,” he added.

The F-35 Lightning II is a 5th generation fighter, combining advanced stealth with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations, advanced sustainment and lower operational and support costs.