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Friday, September 17, 2010     INTELLIGENCE BRIEFING

Israel approves purchase of F-35, under pressure from administration

JERUSALEM — Israel has granted final approval for the procurement of the Joint Strike Fighter from the United States.

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A Cabinet committee authorized the Israeli procurement of 20 F-35 fighter-jets, developed by Lockheed Martin. The committee, headed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Ehud Barak, overcame opposition by defense officials and several ministers that JSF was too expensive and failed to demonstrate its promised capabilities.

Officials said the United States pressured the Netanyahu government to grant final approval to the JSF deal, estimated at costing nearly $3 billion. They said the administration of President Barack Obama wanted to use the JSF to overcome opposition by Congress to a proposed $60 billion U.S. military deal with Saudi Arabia.


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"Procuring the most advanced fighter jet in the world is a significant step towards bolstering the state of Israel's military capability," Netanyahu said on Sept. 16.

"We provide military resources, security assistance to a range of allies from Israel to Saudi Arabia," U.S. State Department spokesman Philip Crowley said. "It is in our national interest to do so to maintain both security and stability in the region."

The Cabinet decision came at a long meeting that included Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gabi Ashkenazi and Air Force commander Maj. Gen. Ido Nehushtan. Officials said Nehushtan has been a strong supporter of JSF as Israel's next fighter-jet platform.

Officials said the first F-35s were expected to arrive in Israel in 2015. But they said the U.S. Air Force would train Israeli fighter-jet pilots to operate JSF as early as mid-2011.

Several ministers have expressed concern over the JSF deal. They cited the U.S. decision not to allow Israel to install indigenous systems on the F-35.

But officials said Netanyahu quashed Cabinet discussion of the feasibility of JSF. They said Finance Minister Yuval Steinitz had demanded an examination of F-35 cost estimates as well as the repercussions of Israel's defense industry being denied access to the aircraft.



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