INSS Insight No. 314

A new issue of INSS Insight is posted on our site:

More Trouble for the F-35?
by Yiftah Shapir, INSS

In early December 2011, a US Department of Defense report about the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) was leaked to the media. The bottom line of the report was that there are, in the language of the report, several problems with “major consequences” regarding continued production. Israel has placed an order for 19 planes, to be delivered starting in 2016 at the earliest. Especially given the problems that have come to light, perhaps a better idea would be to postpone the purchase of the F-35 until the coming decade and in the meantime invest the money in different weapon systems. Fifth generation planes would certainly improve IAF capabilities, but it must be asked whether a possible postponement in acquisition would seriously affect Israel’s response to the new threats.

Editor, INSS Insight
Yehuda Ben Meir

INSS Insight is published through the generosity of
Sari and Israel Roizman, Philadelphia

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