Israeli singer-songwriter David Broza kicked off the official rollout ceremony for Israel’s F-35 Adir (“mighty one” in Hebrew) at Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility June 22.
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The aircraft is the first of a planned 33 Israeli F-35Is.
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The Israeli air force chief has recommended that Israel buy 17 additional F-35s, which would bring the total to 50 fighters.
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The first two F-35Is will land in Israel this December at Nevatim Air Base in southern Israel.
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Israel will be the first F-35 Foreign Military Sales (FMS) customer to receive its aircraft.
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Jeff Babione, F-35 program manager (back row center, in red tie), and other Lockheed Martin representatives with the F-35I.
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Israel is working with Lockheed Martin to maximize autonomy of its planned stealth fighter force.
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The Israeli F-35I will have its own command, control, communications and computing (C4) system, indigenous weaponry, cyberprotection shield and possibly an autonomous electronic warfare system.
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The Israeli air force will be unique among the FMS customers in performing heavy maintenance in-country rather than at predetermined regional overhaul facilities.
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The F-35 will officially make its international debut in the U.K. next month at the Royal International Air Tattoo and the Farnborough Airshow.
Lockheed Martin revealed the first Israeli F-35I to the public at its Fort Worth facility on June 22. In December, Lockheed will deliver the first two of a planned 33 F-35Is to the Israeli air force, which plans to declare the jets operational before the end of 2017.
