The request was formulated officially during the 'Paris Air Show', which was attended by a delegation of senior representatives of Lockheed Martin.
As is known, an IAF team is currently in Fort Worth, Texas, for integration on the aircraft, in preparation for the arrival of the first Israeli F-35 planned for the end of the 2016.
"The Israeli F-35, as it happened for the F-15 and the F16, will be a different fighter than the ones Lockheed Martin will deliver to the JSF program partners. It will no doubt be characterized by advanced systems and, among these, a greater range of action ".
The IAF would propose specific supplementary tanks. It means that the Israelis want more than just a standard tank. The integration must not affect the profile of the fighter and its stealth characteristics. Israel may be interested in extending the JSF's range to reduce airborne refueling on long-range missions. It should be noted that in the past Lockheed Martin produced a special version of the F-16 fighter, with its own additional tanks, for the Israeli air force.
But why does Israel want an F-35 with greater reach?
"The current range of an F-35 is around 1150 km. If the Israeli F-35 increased by 30% its 'flight range' could hit Iranian targets. However, even with this greater capacity, the fighter would always need an in-flight refueling, considering that the Iranian targets are at a minimum distance of at least 1000 km ".
However, the gap between F-35 of A-series and B-series continues to become increasingly evident. If it is true on the one hand that the F-35 will receive all the integrations up to the 2040, on the other it will already be available important modifications (such as a new engine, system avionics and more powerful radar) from the 2020 that can be purchased at discretion of the countries that will decide to keep it in step with the times.
The 2,82 billions of dollars deal, including aircraft maintenance and personnel training, was signed last February after being approved by a ministerial committee last December 1st. It includes the purchase of fourteen stealth fighters and the possibility of buying other 17 fighters. It is the continuation of an agreement signed in the 2010 for the purchase of nineteen F-35.
The first two fighters will arrive in Israel by the end of the 2016. The first squadron consisting of nineteen F-35 will be operating in the Israeli Air Force at the beginning of 2019, while the desire to purchase a second lot for the creation of a second squadron has already been confirmed.
The F-35 is technologically more advanced than the F-16I (the 'I' stands for Israel) and is considered one of the most powerful fighters in production. The aircraft of Lockheed Martin, will become the first stealth aircraft under the IAF. As it happens for every airplane that enters in line with the Israeli aviation (common practice also in the USA, in Russia, in China, in Japan, in Sweden, in Germany, but unfortunately not Italy), also the F-35 will be renamed. "Ha-Adir" (The Great), will be the battle name of Israel's F-35.
The F-35 - continues from the IAF - is in some ways a modern version of the F-16. It was built as a small single-engine plane. "Ha-Adir" is extremely effective due to its versatility as it can perform any type of mission: close air support and dogfight in the first place in addition to the ability to engage the enemy beyond the visual range.
But why did Israel focus on the F-35?
For two main reasons: stealth technology and avionics. Stealth technology allows the aircraft to fly virtually unnoticed. For many years, stealth technology was deemed too expensive to be implemented on small aircraft, which is why it was only used on larger and more expensive bombers like the B-2, the B-1 and the F-117. The recent development of the F-35 allows the incorporation of stealth features at a low price.
Finally, the F-35 was designed to be equipped with the best on-board electronic systems in the world. They will be an integral part of the aircraft and not as additional equipment as is the case for other fighters.
The F-35 purchased
The Ministerial Committee for Public Defense Procurement of Israel last December approved the purchase of fourteen new F-35 compared to the thirty-one provided by the Air Force. This would not be an afterthought, but an extension postponed to the 2017. After further consultations and an additional vote by the Commission, the purchase of the other seventeen fighters will be evaluated.
The fourteen F-35 are added to the nineteen already purchased to form two stealth squadrons. The first nineteen F-35s have cost altogether, also thanks to military aid obtained by Israel, 2,75 billion dollars.
Israel expects to have fifty F-2021 on the line by 35. The Nevatim air base in the Negev will be the home of the F-35.
The "I" on our fighter is for Israel
Ten years ago, the Israeli air force introduced the letter "I" on the famous F-16 Falcon, which became the F-16I. Also known as 'Sufa' (Tempesta in Hebrew), the aircraft was built in the United States, but heavily modified with advanced systems designed and built in Israel.
But what's so special about the Israeli F-16?
In fact, there are thousands of F-16 in almost every Western air force. The F-16I 'Sufa' however, is very different. Meanwhile, the 'I' stands for Israel. The fighter has been heavily modified to adapt to the specific needs of the Israel Air Force. The F-16I is equipped with a state-of-the-art weapon system, a specially constructed radar and a technology implemented in the helmet that allows the pilot to frame the enemy with "the simple look".
'Sufa' Conformal Fuel Tanks (CFT) - the tanks are made by the "Israel Aircraft Industries" and increase the internal fuel capacity of the 50% aircraft.
AGP-68 (V) X Radar - Synthetic aperture radar (SAR), allows tracking of ground targets in all weather conditions. The radar allows automatic targeting, thus saving valuable time.
Helmet Mounted Cueing System - Various information such as height, speed and equipment is projected onto the helmets of pilots and navigators. The helmet is connected to the aiming system and allows the pilot to frame and launch a missile at an enemy target using only the view.
Dorsal spine Avionics Compartment - Part of the advanced systems have been installed according to IAF specifications. The F-16I is equipped with advanced electronic warfare systems developed in Israel.
Satellite communication - The F-16I incorporates two new communication devices produced by Elta and Rafael, including a UHF radio with new encoding methods and long distance relay capabilities.
Franco Iacch
(photo: Israel Defense Forces)
