Three new F-35 fighter jets were delivered by Lockheed Martin to Israel on Sunday, joining the 33 already based in the country.

The fighter jets will join the 140 Squadron (Golden Eagle) and begin taking part in operational activities in the coming weeks.

Israel was the first country to purchase the F-35 as part of a foreign military sale with the US in October 2010.

The aircraft became operational in the Israeli Air Force in December 2017 and have been in full operational service since.

Last week, two Israeli Air Force (IAF) ‘Adir’ F-35 fighter jets escorted two American B-52 bombers above Israeli airspace on their way back from the Persian Gulf, the IDF Spokesperson’s Unit said on Thursday.

The flyover was carried out as part of ‘increasing cooperation’ between the Israeli and US militaries, the spokesperson’s unit added.
This marked the first time US jets were accompanied by Israel’s fleet of F-35s, with such escorts usually carried out using ‘Sufa’ F-16s.

F-35 Lightning II release