The F-35 'Adir' Fighters arrived in Israel
They finally arrived six hours behind schedule: the IAF's first two F-35 'Adir' stealth fighters spent their first night in an underground pen at Nevatim airbase, and today will take to the sky with a blue-and-white cockpit
Dan Arkin
| 13/12/2016
Israeli Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman and US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter with the F-35 (Photo: Ariel Hermoni, IMOD)
"A warm sun was replaced by a full moon," was how IAF Commandant, Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, described yesterday's events: owing to the whims of the weather and fog in Northern Italy, the IAF's first two F-35 'Adir' stealth fighters landed in Israel about six hours behind schedule, but the reception ceremony was conducted in its entirety, as planned. President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot, IAF Commandant Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel and former IAF commanders attended the ceremony.
Shortly after 8:00 PM, F-35 fighter No.901 landed on the runway at Nevatim, followed immediately by fighter No.902 – two gray fighters illuminated by a greenish light. Prior to their night landing they were escorted by a pair of F-15I Ra'am fighters, led by the commander of the IAF 'Hammers' Squadron, Lt. Col. Guy, who welcomed the USAF pilots and escorted them to the runway. After landing, they became the property of the Government of Israel and the most recent addition to the Order of Battle of IAF. The IAF came of age yesterday – from 4th generation fighters to 5th generation fighters.
Today, the weather permitting, the commander of the 'Golden Eagle' Squadron, Lt. Col. Yotam, and another IAF pilot will depart on the maiden flight of the F-35 stealth fighters in the Israeli skies. For both pilots, this will be the first flight in this aircraft, as previously they had only practiced flying it on simulators in the USA.
Immediately after the landing it was time for the adorning ceremony, and the emblems of the State of Israel and the Israeli Air Force were attached to the two new gray fighters. President Rivlin and IAF Commandant Eshel attached the decals to one of the fighters, and Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Commandant of Nevatim airbase attached the decals to the other fighter. Then came the greetings.
President Rivlin: "Today, 22 tons of flying steel have landed here, which would change the face of the Middle East. This aircraft will slash through the air farther and deeper than ever before. This aircraft consolidates a strategic gap – a vital commodity in our region."
Prime Minister Netanyahu in a forceful and assertive statement: "Anyone considering an attack against us will be attacked, and anyone contemplating our destruction will place themselves in existential danger. The 'Adir' fighters provide a boost of power to Israel's military strength. The long arm of the State of Israel has just become longer and mightier."
US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter: "Israel is the only country in the region that would employ F-35 fighters. The USA is committed to maintaining Israel's military advantage, and this aircraft symbolizes that commitment. The 'Adir' is the ideal aircraft for joining the coalition in order to operate together effectively, and we will continue to provide Israel with 'Adir' fighters."
IAF Commandant, Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel: "The skies of the Middle East are the world's most severely threatened airspace, and that was the reason we had embarked on the journey to acquire the F-35 fighters. The IAF's fifth-generation revolution is being launched right here at Nevatim airbase. As of tonight, a fascinating man-machine encounter at the cutting edge of aviation technology will be taking place here. This aircraft will become more and more blue-and-white. We are preparing to take delivery of 50 'Adir' fighters."
Many members of the audience expressed their amazement at the fact that the two fighters, regarded as the world's best, had been unable to take off owing to the fog. Spokespersons on behalf of IAF and Lockheed Martin explained that the flight to Israel was an administrative rather than an operational flight, so there was no reason to take even the slightest risk of a possible malfunction as a result of departing under the adverse weather conditions of Northern Italy in December, and the departure was delayed.
The topic of the day was the surprise attack by President-Elect Donald Trump against the F-35 project. Trump twitted it was a project worth hundreds of billions of dollars that has 'gone out of control'. The top management of the Lockheed Martin Corporation, including the President, CEO and the entire management of the F-35 project, were on hand at Nevatim airbase last night. The statement by the President-Elect caused substantial embarrassment among the Lockheed Martin entourage, but senior LM executives and spokespersons said, off the record, that the President-Elect must have been provided with unsubstantiated information, and that the F-35 is currently cheaper than other fighter aircraft.
Later on, Jeff Babione, Lockheed Martin's Executive Vice President and GM of the F-35 program, issued an official response that stated, very politely: "We welcome the opportunity to address any questions the President-Elect has about the program. It's an amazing program… Since the beginning, we've invested hundreds of millions of dollars to reduce the price of the airplane more than 70%. We project the price of the aircraft will be US$85 million in the 2019-2020 timeframe. When we get to that price, the F-35 will be less expensive than any fourth-generation fighter in the world…"
They finally arrived six hours behind schedule: the IAF's first two F-35 'Adir' stealth fighters spent their first night in an underground pen at Nevatim airbase, and today will take to the sky with a blue-and-white cockpit
Israeli Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman and US Defense Secretary Ashton Carter with the F-35 (Photo: Ariel Hermoni, IMOD)
"A warm sun was replaced by a full moon," was how IAF Commandant, Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel, described yesterday's events: owing to the whims of the weather and fog in Northern Italy, the IAF's first two F-35 'Adir' stealth fighters landed in Israel about six hours behind schedule, but the reception ceremony was conducted in its entirety, as planned. President Reuven Rivlin, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot, IAF Commandant Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel and former IAF commanders attended the ceremony.
Shortly after 8:00 PM, F-35 fighter No.901 landed on the runway at Nevatim, followed immediately by fighter No.902 – two gray fighters illuminated by a greenish light. Prior to their night landing they were escorted by a pair of F-15I Ra'am fighters, led by the commander of the IAF 'Hammers' Squadron, Lt. Col. Guy, who welcomed the USAF pilots and escorted them to the runway. After landing, they became the property of the Government of Israel and the most recent addition to the Order of Battle of IAF. The IAF came of age yesterday – from 4th generation fighters to 5th generation fighters.
Today, the weather permitting, the commander of the 'Golden Eagle' Squadron, Lt. Col. Yotam, and another IAF pilot will depart on the maiden flight of the F-35 stealth fighters in the Israeli skies. For both pilots, this will be the first flight in this aircraft, as previously they had only practiced flying it on simulators in the USA.
Immediately after the landing it was time for the adorning ceremony, and the emblems of the State of Israel and the Israeli Air Force were attached to the two new gray fighters. President Rivlin and IAF Commandant Eshel attached the decals to one of the fighters, and Prime Minister Netanyahu and the Commandant of Nevatim airbase attached the decals to the other fighter. Then came the greetings.
President Rivlin: "Today, 22 tons of flying steel have landed here, which would change the face of the Middle East. This aircraft will slash through the air farther and deeper than ever before. This aircraft consolidates a strategic gap – a vital commodity in our region."
Prime Minister Netanyahu in a forceful and assertive statement: "Anyone considering an attack against us will be attacked, and anyone contemplating our destruction will place themselves in existential danger. The 'Adir' fighters provide a boost of power to Israel's military strength. The long arm of the State of Israel has just become longer and mightier."
US Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter: "Israel is the only country in the region that would employ F-35 fighters. The USA is committed to maintaining Israel's military advantage, and this aircraft symbolizes that commitment. The 'Adir' is the ideal aircraft for joining the coalition in order to operate together effectively, and we will continue to provide Israel with 'Adir' fighters."
IAF Commandant, Maj. Gen. Amir Eshel: "The skies of the Middle East are the world's most severely threatened airspace, and that was the reason we had embarked on the journey to acquire the F-35 fighters. The IAF's fifth-generation revolution is being launched right here at Nevatim airbase. As of tonight, a fascinating man-machine encounter at the cutting edge of aviation technology will be taking place here. This aircraft will become more and more blue-and-white. We are preparing to take delivery of 50 'Adir' fighters."
Many members of the audience expressed their amazement at the fact that the two fighters, regarded as the world's best, had been unable to take off owing to the fog. Spokespersons on behalf of IAF and Lockheed Martin explained that the flight to Israel was an administrative rather than an operational flight, so there was no reason to take even the slightest risk of a possible malfunction as a result of departing under the adverse weather conditions of Northern Italy in December, and the departure was delayed.
The topic of the day was the surprise attack by President-Elect Donald Trump against the F-35 project. Trump twitted it was a project worth hundreds of billions of dollars that has 'gone out of control'. The top management of the Lockheed Martin Corporation, including the President, CEO and the entire management of the F-35 project, were on hand at Nevatim airbase last night. The statement by the President-Elect caused substantial embarrassment among the Lockheed Martin entourage, but senior LM executives and spokespersons said, off the record, that the President-Elect must have been provided with unsubstantiated information, and that the F-35 is currently cheaper than other fighter aircraft.
Later on, Jeff Babione, Lockheed Martin's Executive Vice President and GM of the F-35 program, issued an official response that stated, very politely: "We welcome the opportunity to address any questions the President-Elect has about the program. It's an amazing program… Since the beginning, we've invested hundreds of millions of dollars to reduce the price of the airplane more than 70%. We project the price of the aircraft will be US$85 million in the 2019-2020 timeframe. When we get to that price, the F-35 will be less expensive than any fourth-generation fighter in the world…"
