The military calls the fifth-generation American combat vehicle a "stealth fighter." In the Middle East, the F-35 was dubbed the "ghost". The United States and Israel signed a contract for the supply of weapons, and after the new Phantom goes into production, the Jewish state intends to purchase 20 aircraft, which in the next decade will form the backbone of the IDF Air Force strike squadrons.
Interest in the "flying novelty" in Israel is great. The prototype of the fighter is already ready, and its tests have proved that the radar "does not see" the car. Israeli Ambassador to the United States Michael Oren, commenting on the deal, said that the Phantom of the latest modification is the most modern fighter in the world and the purchase of a batch of cars will strengthen the country's defense against any threat, no matter where it comes from. Of course, as is customary in such cases, the strategic and historical significance of the event was emphasized. The military, for their part, is more outspoken: Tel Aviv will not stand the price when it comes to the Iranian threat.
In their opinion, the main advantage of a combat vehicle is that it is inaccessible to Middle Eastern locators. And if a military necessity arises, such fighters, without being displayed on the indicators of the all-round view of Iranian radars, will be able to freely penetrate the airspace of the Islamic Republic. Assessing the acquisition, Israel Defense Ministry Director General Ehud Shani stressed that the "Ghost" will "tip the scales of the military confrontation in the Middle East in our favor." He did not rule out that it is possible to acquire several similar fighters, in which "we will intervene technologically." Experts explain that the military official is referring to the installation on the fighters of some elements of onboard equipment, navigation system and Israeli-made weapons that have been tested in the Middle East. What is not approved by a strategic ally and becomes a stumbling block in the relationship.
A considerable burden of expenses falls on the shoulders of the Israeli taxpayers: the cost of contracts for the creation of the engine for the "Ghost" alone exceeds $ 2.5 billion. Well, the price of the fighter after launching into the series will be up to forty million dollars. “Invisible! - a source of pride for the Pentagon: F-35 fighters within two years will be put into service with the American army and will replace the current modifications of the F-16 and F / A-18 with them.
