Israel will take delivery of 100 F-16Is by 2009. Lockheed-Martin has already made reciprocal procurements worth $1.1 billion.
The first two F-16I jets will land in Israel tomorrow at the Ramon Israel Air Force (IAF) base in the Negev. The two planes left the Lockheed-Martin (LMT) plant in Forth Worth, Texas, last night, and made an stopover in Europe. They will continue their flight to Israel tomorrow morning.
Israel will receive 100 more F-16Is over the next five years. The IAF will establish four squadrons of F-16Is, which the IAF has names "Sufa (Storm). When deliveries are completed, the F-16 will constitute the majority of IAF combat jets, forming the IAF backbone, along with the F-15.
The F-16I procurement was the largest defense deal in Israel's history, at an estimated $4.5 billion. When the deal was signed, the plane's chief contractor, Lockheed-Martin, committed to make $1.45 billion in reciprocal procurements, and already made $1.1 billion by the end of 2003.
$600 million of the reciprocal procurements were channeled to Israeli subcontractors of the F-16I.
Israeli companies participating in the F-16I program are as follows:
- Israel Aircraft Industries (IAI) makes wings, tail sections, inline fuel tanks, satellite communications systems, and tactical data communications systems.
- Elbit Systems (Nasdaq: ESLT; TASE:ESLT) makes the head-up display (HUD), helmet display, mission computer, presentation computer and digital map, elevators, ailerons, fuselage stabilizers, and doors.
- Rafael makes the avionics suit, ground following algorithm software, and communications equipment.
- Elisra Electronic Systems makes the defense suit against radar locking, radar-guided and heat-seeking missiles.
- BAE Systems Rokar International makes external heat dissipaters and flares.
- Rada Electronic Industries (Nasdaq: RADIF) makes ground debriefing systems.
Published by Globes [online] - www.globes.co.il - on February 18, 2004