BEST FIGHTER FOR CANADA

Not a bad deal when you get to spend someone else's money. In a move that should surprise nobody, Israel has announced that it intends to buy a few more F-35s to add to the 19 it initially ordered in 2010 . The newest order provides for a minimum of 14 F-35s, with an option to order up to 17 more. The Israeli order is interesting for several reasons: First is the fact that those F-35s are completely funded by the American taxpayer.  Not directly, of course, but the USA doles out approximately $3 billion worth of military aid to Israel annually .  That $3 billion also just so happens to be the cost of those 14 shiny new F-35s.  Coincidence?  Maybe. The second reason the Israeli JSF buy is interesting is due to the fact that Israel, while putting very little investment into the program, seems be reaping plenty of benefits.  As a "Security Cooperative Participant", Israel would be below "Level 3" partners like Canada or Denmark.  Despite this rel...

"Could amount" does not mean "will amount". Israel, one of the JSF's staunchest supporters since its inception, has drastically reduced its F-35 order.  Instead of an initial order for 31 stealth fighters, the Israeli government has only approved funding for 14 .  This is thanks to the fact that the F-35 simply is not ready yet.  Israeli Intelligence Minister Yuval Steinitz had this to say: “Since the plane is not yet operational in the US, I suggested that we make do with the purchase of less than half the amount, and wait with decisions on purchasing additional jets, as several other countries – like Australia, Italy, Canada and Holland – have done.” It seems as though everybody wants a piece of the JSF's industrial benefits , but at the same time is having cold feet when it comes to actually purchasing the aircraft in sufficient amounts.