Coinciding with Netanyahu’s visit, the Pentagon announces an F-15 deal for Israel
The U.S. Department of Defense, the Pentagon, announced on Monday that Boeing had been awarded a contract worth 8.6 billion dollars for Israel’s F-15 fighter program.
This came after U.S. President Donald Trump met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida.
The Pentagon stated: “This contract provides for the design, integration, equipment, testing, production, and delivery of 25 new F-15IA aircraft for the Israeli Air Force, with an option to purchase an additional 25 F-15IA aircraft.”
Trump hosted the Israeli Prime Minister for talks focused on the next phase of the ceasefire agreement in the Gaza Strip, touching on several issues, including Iran, the West Bank, and others.
Trump downplayed reports of strained relations between him and Netanyahu, saying that the latter “may be extremely tough,” but that Israel “might have ceased to exist” without his leadership after the Hamas attack on October 7.
For his part, Netanyahu said the meeting was “highly productive” and announced that Israel would award Trump its highest civilian honor — the first time it has been granted to a non-Israeli citizen.
What do we know about the aircraft?
The F-15 is considered one of the most successful air-superiority fighters in the world, with an impressive air-combat record, achieving more than 100 confirmed kills with zero losses.
The F-15 was developed in response to challenges faced by the United States during the Vietnam War and first flew in 1972.
Its success in aerial combat is mainly due to its powerful twin engines, excellent thrust-to-weight ratio, and advanced radar systems, making it capable of dominating beyond-visual-range engagements while still excelling in close-range dogfights.
Another major factor is the powerful AN/APG radar series, which has been continuously upgraded over decades to improve range, accuracy, and electronic counter-measure capabilities, enabling pilots to detect and track multiple targets at long distances, even in crowded and changing environments.
The aircraft is equipped with a range of weapons, including the AIM-7 missile, later the AIM-120 AMRAAM, the AIM-9 Sidewinder, and an internally mounted 20 mm M61 Vulcan cannon.
Thanks to its advanced weapons and performance characteristics — including high acceleration, tight turning radius, and unmatched climb rate — the F-15 is regarded as a highly lethal fighter.
F-15 pilots receive rigorous training, which is essential for sustaining air superiority. In the United States, programs such as “Red Flag” provide realistic and demanding training environments.
During Operation Desert Storm, F-15s achieved 36 of the 39 U.S. air-to-air victories, including kills against MiG-29, MiG-25, and Mirage aircraft.
The United States also used its F-15 fleet very effectively in conflicts across the Middle East during the first two decades of the 21st century.
