It's a happy day for the Israel Air Force in Fort Worth, Texas. The first of the force's new F-16-I fighter plane will roll off the Lockheed Martin assembly line this afternoon, and an Israeli delegation led by Defense Minister Sha'ul Mofaz will take official possession.
Israel has purchased 102 of the bomber jets, for a record $4.5 billion - paid for with money given Israel by the U.S. in military grants. Israel and Egypt are the two biggest recipients of U.S. aid.
The Israeli defense establishment in 1999 chose Lockheed over Boeing to manufacture the new planes. It was reported at the time, however, that the plane would not be fitted with Israel's advanced ELTA radar, as Israel had requested, but rather with the lesser-quality American-made radar - thus that Arab countries' F-16's will have the same radar systems as Israel.
The new F-16-I, named Sufah (Thunderstorm) in Hebrew, will strengthen the IAF's long reach, enabling it to reach nations such as Iran and Libya. It can fly a round trip of over 1,600 kilometers without refueling. The first of the jets will arrive in Israel next month, and will be stationed - together with the families of the pilots and crews - in the Negev. The plane is different than the United States' F-16's, and no Israeli or American pilots have yet flown them - although IAF pilots have practiced on a Sufah simulator.
Israel has purchased 102 of the bomber jets, for a record $4.5 billion - paid for with money given Israel by the U.S. in military grants. Israel and Egypt are the two biggest recipients of U.S. aid.
The Israeli defense establishment in 1999 chose Lockheed over Boeing to manufacture the new planes. It was reported at the time, however, that the plane would not be fitted with Israel's advanced ELTA radar, as Israel had requested, but rather with the lesser-quality American-made radar - thus that Arab countries' F-16's will have the same radar systems as Israel.
The new F-16-I, named Sufah (Thunderstorm) in Hebrew, will strengthen the IAF's long reach, enabling it to reach nations such as Iran and Libya. It can fly a round trip of over 1,600 kilometers without refueling. The first of the jets will arrive in Israel next month, and will be stationed - together with the families of the pilots and crews - in the Negev. The plane is different than the United States' F-16's, and no Israeli or American pilots have yet flown them - although IAF pilots have practiced on a Sufah simulator.