CaliToday (30/12/2025): The United States has solidified a massive expansion of Israel’s aerial combat capabilities, awarding Boeing a ceiling-priced $8.6 billion contract to manufacture a new fleet of F-15IA fighter jets for the Israeli Air Force.
The Department of Defense’s announcement, released late Monday, came just hours after President Donald Trump hosted Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida, underscoring the ironclad military alignment between the two nations despite ongoing geopolitical turbulence in the Middle East.
The "IA" Standard Under the terms of the Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract, Boeing will oversee the "design, integration, installation of equipment, testing, production, and delivery" of 25 new F-15IA aircraft. The deal also includes an option for Israel to purchase an additional 25 jets in the future, potentially bringing the total acquisition to 50 aircraft.
Production will be centered at Boeing’s facility in St. Louis, Missouri, with a projected completion date of December 31, 2035.
The F-15IA (Israel Advanced) is a derivative of the legendary air superiority fighter originally developed by McDonnell Douglas in 1967 and fielded by the U.S. Air Force since 1976. Renowned for its speed, range, and heavy payload capacity, the upgraded F-15 remains a critical asset for delivering radar-guided munitions from high altitudes, complementing Israel’s existing stealth F-35 fleet.
A Bipartisan Stance on Aid The finalized contract highlights Washington's enduring role as Israel's primary military patron. The sale proceeds amidst sustained pressure from pro-Palestinian groups and anti-war demonstrators across the United States, who have called for an arms embargo citing the humanitarian toll of Israel’s military campaigns in Gaza.
However, these demands have found little purchase in the White House. The strategic pipeline of weaponry to Tel Aviv has remained uninterrupted, bridging the transition from the Biden administration to the current Trump presidency, both of which have prioritized Israeli security requirements over calls for conditional aid.