Eagle II fighter aircraft for Israel
On 13 August 2024, the US Secretary of State has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Israel of F-15IA (Israel Advanced) Eagle II fighter aircraft. The possible sale also includes Mid-Life Update (MLU) modification kits for its existing F-15I multi-role fighters.
The government of Israel has requested to buy up to 50 new F-15IA multi-role fighters and MLU modification kits for its existing 25 F-15I Ra'am aircraft. The estimated total value is USD 18,8 billion. Deliveries are estimated to begin in 2029.
In August 2021, Scramble Magazine first wrote on the F-15IA Israel Advanced Eagle. It was then reported by Israeli media that during the visit of Israeli Prime Minister Bennett with US President Biden in Washington on Thursday 2 September 2021, Bennett planned to ask the US for a special increase in Foreign Military Financing (FMF) dollars to procure an advanced version of the Boeing F-15EX Strike Eagle II, the F-15IA (Israel Advanced) for the Heyl Ha'Avir (IAF, Israeli Air Force).
In January 2023, the Israeli Ministry of Defence sent a Letter of Request (LOR) to the US government for requesting for the F-15IA Eagle II. The LOR is the first step fort he purchase of military hardware and equipment through the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) process, after which details on numbers and pricing are negotiated.
Credit image: Boeing Defense