(Asien) Israelische Luftwaffe

[Nightwatch]

Gibt wohl doch größere Widerstände, eine Mehrheit im Sicherheitskabinett will (erstmal) weniger F-35 und dafür wohl mehr Panzerfahrzeuge.

Israel to halve second order of F-35 fighter

In talks in Washington last month, Ya'alon agreed to a preliminary deal for 25 to 31 planes, but members of ministerial committee raise objections, pushing for a smaller purchase of 10 to 15 planes.

Steinitz, one of the committee's members, told Reuters there was majority opposition to the scale of Ya'alon's order and preference for a smaller purchase of 10 to 15 planes. A final decision is expected in the coming days.

While declining to go into detail about the closed-door discussions, Steinitz cited misgivings about whether the F-35's range, payload and manoeuvrability would suit Israel's needs. The Israelis are also husbanding a defense budget which, though buoyed by some $3 billion in annual US grants, faces cuts.

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