US announces Israeli JSF buy

The US Department of Defense announced that Israel has agreed to buy 25 F-35 Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) and support. The contract is worth about $15 B. While eight partner countries will also fly the JSF, Israel becomes the first FMS customer. The JSF will be a short take-off and landing aircraft to replace F-16 and AV-8 aircraft.

See the story at Rueters.com.

Israel passes Britain to become fourth largest defense exporting country

May 30, 2008 by Dagpotter · Comment
Filed under: FMS, Israel 

According to this article in 2007 Israel passed Britain to become the fourth largest defense exporting country. They follow the US, Russia and France now. The two biggest customers are the US and India. The recent win of the Indian AWACS contract, reported here, had a great deal to do with that. The Israeli government and industry have made major strides in recent times increasing their exports rather then just focusing on domestic needs.

Japan to modernize E-2C aircraft

Northrop-Grumman received a contract worth $37 M to upgrade Japan’s E-2C aircraft. See an article here. Originally a carrier based Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS); several countries like Egypt, Israel, Singapore and Japan have bought it to base on land and use in their restricted airspace.