The first two F-35 Adir stealth fighter jets are soon to arrive in Israel — this coming Monday — at Tel Nof in southern Israel, bringing with them a new era for the Israel Defense Forces.
A message from the American pilot bringing us our F-35! pic.twitter.com/dLFq0OZy0i— IDF (@IDFSpokesperson) December 8, 2016
The first two planes are on their way from Texas, with a major welcoming ceremony in the works for their arrival Monday, bigger than any seen in the past 40 years, according to military sources. The fanfare is to include a flyover by the two F-35s before they land on the runway.
Upon landing, senior IDF officers will plant the IAF insignia upon each of the $85 million aircraft, thereby officially enlisting that fighter jet to the Israel Air Force.
They’re flying towards the Jewish State even as this article is being read.
A stopover in Portugal’s Azores Islands on Tuesday was followed by an in-flight refueling that was filmed by a photography crew on Thursday. (see the video below) But the two American pilots who are flying the jets to Israel and their refueling tanker have one more stop to make this weekend — they’ll be in Italy — before their arrival in Israel.
Nineteen more Adir fighter jets are expected to arrive in the near future.
In addition, the Israeli cabinet last month unanimously approved the purchase of 17 more of the stealth fighter jets, bringing the total number of Adir aircraft in the IAF fleet to 50 by the end of the next decade. Each of the jets costs approximately $85 million.
Lockheed Martin produced the stealth fighter jet together with Israeli defense firm Elbit Systems Ltd., the latter to be operating the new F-35 training center at Nevatim. Construction for the center is to be completed by the end of 2017.
In a recent statement, Lockheed Martin said that over the past three decades, Elbit “has acquired a great deal of experience in trainers and simulators, and is a world leader in high-tech display. Its advanced systems are in operational use by leading armies around the world.”
Watch the video as the Adir (Hebrew for “mighty”) Israeli aircraft carries out aerial refueling operations. The aircraft’s refueling capabilities allow for flexibility in missions and the ability to operate in any military theater.
The Adir is the most advanced stealth fighter jet in the world, allowing the Israel Air Force to protect the nation of Israel and carry out operations wherever they are required.