Boeing to make up to 50 new F-15 fighter jets for Israel Submitted by Yasmine El-Sabawi on Tue, 12/30/2025 - 17:11 Contract is worth nearly $8.6bn and was announced during Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to the US US President Donald Trump hosts Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida, on 29 December 2025 (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters) Off The US Department of War on Monday revealed that Boeing had been awarded a nearly $8.6bn contract to make F-15 fighter jets for Israel. The deal was announced shortly after US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu concluded a joint press conference in Palm Beach, Florida. The contract involves the "design, integration, instrumentation, test, production and delivery of 25 new F-15IA aircraft for the Israeli Air Force, with an option for an additional 25 F-15IA aircraft," according to a routine statement that lists the Pentagon's new contracts. A similar deal was signed in November 2024 at a cost of $5.2bn for 25 such aircraft for Israel. The F-15IA is a variation of the F-15 that is specifically tailored to Israel's needs, likely having been requested to replace its aging “Ra’am” fleet. The US Air Force describes it as an aircraft that can "maintain air supremacy over the battlefield", and "outperform and outfight any current enemy aircraft". Its high engine thrust-to-weight ratio and low wing-loading give it swift maneuverability, and its advanced radar and "identification friend or foe" system makes it one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world. It can reach a speed of 1,875mph. Deliveries to Israel are expected to be completed by 2035. Boeing's St Louis, Missouri site will perform the work. The US remains the leading supplier of tactical fighter jets. Custom-made F-15s have been procured by Japan, South Korea, Qatar and Saudi Arabia in the past. Trump lavished Netanyahu with praise on Monday, repeatedly calling him a "wartime prime minister at the highest level". "He can be very difficult on occasion, but you need a strong man," Trump conceded when asked about his personal relationship with Netanyahu. "If you had a weak man, you wouldn't have Israel right now… with most other leaders, [Israel] would not exist." The two leaders met to discuss the next steps in the Gaza ceasefire plan. Israel has killed more than 400 Palestinians since the deal went into effect on 10 October. Since 7 October 2023, Israel has used US aircraft and weapons to kill more than 71,000 people in Gaza. Trump, however, said he was not worried about what decisions Israel may take. "I'm not concerned about anything that Israel is doing. I'm concerned about what other people are doing, or maybe aren't doing," he said in response to a question about whether Israel was moving fast enough to implement his so-called "peace plan". "Israel's lived up to the plan 100 percent," he told reporters. US-Israel relations Washington News Post Date Override 0 Update Date Mon, 05/04/2020 - 21:19 Update Date Override 0