Lockheed Martin, Israel Celebrate Rollout of Israel’s First F-35 ‘Adir’

FORT WORTH, Texas. Israeli and US leaders joined Lockheed Martin June 22 to celebrate the rollout of the first Israeli Air Force F-35A Lightning II, marking a major production milestone for the future of Israel’s national defence.

“Israel is proud to be the first country in the area to receive and operate it,” said Avigdor Liberman, Israel’s Minister of Defence. “The F-35 is the best aircraft in the world and the choice of all our military leadership at its highest level. It is clear and obvious to us and to the entire region that the new F-35, the Adir, will create real deterrence and enhance our capabilities for a long time.”

Brig Gen Tal Kelman, IAF Chief of Staff said, “As a pilot who has flown more than 30 years in a great variety of aircraft, I had the privilege of flying the F-35 simulator in Fort Worth and it was like holding the future in my hands. The unique combination of split-edge technology, lethality and the amazing man-machine interface will lead the world to the fifth generation.”

Joining the Minister at the ceremony, attended by more than 400 guests from government, the military and industry, were the US Ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro; Minister Tzachi Hanegbi of Israel’s Office of the Prime Minister; Heidi Grant, Deputy Under Secretary of the US Air Force for International Affairs; Lt Gen Chris Bogdan, F-35 Programme Executive Officer, Texas Governor Greg Abbott, and Texas State Congressman Craig Goldman.

“We’re honoured to partner with Israel and help strengthen the deep and lasting partnership between our two nations,” said Marillyn Hewson, Lockheed Martin Chairman, President and CEO at the ceremony. “The F-35 will help Israel remain a beacon of strength and stability in the region and support a safe and secure homeland for generations to come.”

Israel’s F-35, called Adir – which means “Mighty One” in Hebrew – will be a significant addition to maintaining Israel’s qualitative military edge in the Middle East region, with its advanced capability to defeat emerging threats, including advanced missiles and heavily-defended airspace. The F-35 combines advanced low observable stealth technology with fighter speed and agility, fully fused sensor information, network-enabled operations and advanced sustainment support.

Israel’s programme of record is 33 F-35A Conventional Take Off and Landing, or CTOL, aircraft, acquired through the US government’s Foreign Military Sales (FMS) programme. Israel’s contribution to the F-35 programme includes Israel Aerospace Industries (IAI) F-35A wing production; Elbit Systems Ltd. work on the Generation III helmet-mounted display system, which all F-35 pilots fleet-wide will wear; and Elbit Systems-Cyclone F-35 centre fuselage composite components production.

Three distinct variants of the F-35 will replace the F-16 Fighting Falcon and A/OA-10 Thunderbolt II for the US Air Force, the F/A-18 Hornet for the US Navy, the F/A-18 and AV-8B Harrier for the US Marine Corps, and a variety of fighters for at least 11 other countries. Following the US Marine Corps’ July 2015 combat-ready Initial Operational Capability (IOC) declaration, the US Air Force and US Navy intend to attain service IOC this year and in 2018, respectively. More than 170 delivered F-35s have flown in excess of 60,000 flight hours, fleet-wide.