The first fleet of Lockheed Martin’s F-35 stealth fighter jets has been delivered to Israel and is expected to land in the occupied Palestinian lands on Monday afternoon, the Pentagon says.
According to a statement by the Pentagon, US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter was in Israel to address a welcoming ceremony at Nevatim Air Force Base near Beersheba, where two Lightning II fifth generation fighters were expected to touch down.
The ceremony will be attended by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Minister of Military Affairs Avigdor Lieberman, among others.
“The arrival of the aircraft highlights the close defense cooperation between the US and Israel,” the Pentagon added.
Israel has ordered up to 50 F-35s. The aircraft, dubbed “Adir” or “Mighty,” would replace the F-16 Fighting Falcon, a 1970-era fighter jet which is the Israeli air force’s main weapon.
Two of the six Israeli pilots trained in the US would take over the…