Latest order for customized F-15s marks Israel's first jet upgrade in over 20 years

Israel is set to acquire new F-15 fighter jets based on the Advanced Eagle variant, designated the F-15IA (Israel Advanced), marking the first delivery of new F-15s to the Israeli Air Force since the final F-15I Ra’am aircraft entered service in 1999. The deal, valued at up to $8.5 billion, extends the long-standing role of the F-15 in Israel’s air power.

The agreement was signed during Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s New Year visit to Mar-a-Lago, Florida, where he met US President Donald Trump, according to a report by The War Zone (TWZ).

The US Pentagon announced the Foreign Military Sales (FMS) contract on December 29. It covers the design, integration, testing, production, and delivery of 25 F-15IA aircraft, with an option for a further 25. The work will be carried out in St. Louis, Missouri, and is expected to conclude by the end of 2035.

TWZ reports that the jets will almost certainly include extensive Israel-specific modifications, continuing a long tradition with previous F-15 variants, particularly in electronic warfare, weapons integration, and communications systems.

In August 2024, the previous Biden administration approved Israel’s request to purchase up to 50 F-15IAs and to upgrade its existing F-15I fleet as part of a broader package worth $18.82 billion.

“The new F-15IA will be equipped with cutting-edge weapon systems, including state-of-the-art Israeli technologies,” the Israeli Defence Ministry said at the time. “The upgraded aircraft will feature enhanced range capabilities, increased payload capacity, and improved performance across various operational scenarios.”

The F-15IA is derived from the F-15EX currently operated by the US Air Force, according to TWZ. Both Boeing and the US Air Force have repeatedly highlighted the aircraft’s long range and heavy payload capacity, qualities seen by Washington as particularly valuable for operations across the Pacific.

Israel, meanwhile, has long valued the F-15 for its ability to conduct long-range strike missions while carrying substantial ordnance loads. The newest F-15 variants can also carry outsized weapons, including hypersonic missiles, as well as larger quantities of legacy munitions. This capability is expected to be especially attractive to Israel, whose recent operations against Iran have underscored the growing importance of air-launched ballistic missiles and other standoff weapons well suited to the F-15IA.

TWZ notes that the initial batch of 25 F-15IAs will effectively double the Israeli Air Force’s fleet of strike-optimised F-15s. At present, 25 F-15I Ra’am aircraft, delivered in the late 1990s, are operated by 69 Squadron “Hammers” at Hatzerim Air Base.

By Nazrin Sadigova