US to sell 75 fighter jets to Israel

The Defense Department has said that it wants to sell up to 75 fighter jets to Israel in a USD 15.2 billion deal for the aircraft expecte d to be the mainstay of air power in the US and several other nations for decades. The Defense Security cooperation Agency said on Monday that it had notified the Congress on Friday that Israel has asked to buy 25 of the F-35s  made by Lockheed Martin Corp, with an option to buy an additional 50 at a later date.

The sale would be the first to a country outside of the US and eight partner nations that are collaborating on the F-35, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter. The jet is still under development and is not yet in service, but the US plans to eventually acquire 2,458 planes for the Army, Marines and Air Force at a cost of USD 300 billion.

The F-35 was designed as a replacement for a range of warplanes, including the F-16, which is a large component of many air forces worldwide. Countries such as Spain, Singapore and Japan also have expressed interest in the F-35.

Israel has said it plans to buy a fleet of F-35s as it upgrades its military technology. The first batch of 25 would be the variant of F-35 designed for conventional take off from military airfields, but the later 50 could include a version that can land vertically.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement that the proposed sale will help Israel "develop and maintain a strong self-defense capability." It also said that sale of the technologically advanced fighter won't upset the balance of military power in the region.

The US is developing the plane with nations that include Britain, Australia and Italy, though the Pentagon has shouldered much of the funding. Plans currently call for the military to start flying the plane in 2010.