Pentagon Awards Boeing $8.6 Billion Contract for F-15IA Jets for Israel, Strengthening U.S. Defense Ties

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Pentagon Awards Boeing $8.6B Contract for F-15IA Jets for Israel

The Pentagon has awarded Boeing an $8.6 billion contract for the F-15IA jets for Israel, covering design, production, and delivery of 25 advanced fighter aircraft with an option for 25 additional jets under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program, the Pentagon said in a statement.

The contract announcement follows a recent meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida. Work on the F-15IA jets for Israel program will be carried out in St. Louis, Missouri, with deliveries and related activities scheduled through December 2035.

Contract Details

• Pentagon awarded Boeing a hybrid cost-plus-fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price contract for the F-15IA jets for Israel.
• Scope includes design, integration, instrumentation, testing, production, and delivery of 25 aircraft, with option for 25 more.
• The contract is executed under the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) mechanism.
• Initial obligation at award was $840 million.
• Expected completion date is listed as December 31, 2035.

The F-15IA is an advanced variant of Boeing’s F-15EX, tailored for the Israeli Air Force to meet specific operational requirements. The FMS route means Israel funds the purchase, while the Pentagon administers the sale on behalf of the U.S. government.

Strategic Context

The U.S. remains the principal supplier of major weapons systems to Israel, and this contract reinforces the long-standing security partnership between the two countries. The deal comes amid ongoing regional tensions and debate in U.S. domestic politics over American arms sales to Middle East partners.

U.S. Industrial Impact

The award maintains production work for Boeing’s aerospace workforce in St. Louis and underscores the continued international demand for fourth-generation fighter platforms. The F-15 series has a long service record and ongoing upgrades aimed at modern combat roles.