Israeli Air Force Expands F-35i Fleet to 48 Jets in 2026

This article summarizes reporting by Yahoo News / The Jerusalem Post and Yonah Jeremy Bob.

IAF Stealth Fleet Nears Completion of First Procurement Phase

The Israeli Air Force (IAF) has successfully expanded its fleet of fifth-generation fighters with the arrival of three new F-35i “Adir” jets. According to reporting by Yahoo News and military correspondent Yonah Jeremy Bob, the military aircraft landed at Nevatim Air Force Base on Sunday, January 18, 2026. This delivery brings the total number of operational F-35s in the Israeli inventory to 48.

The arrival marks a significant milestone in a long-standing procurement agreement between Israel and U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin. As noted in the primary report, the current deal covers 50 aircraft in total. With 48 now on Israeli soil, the IAF is only two airframes away from completing this initial acquisition phase. These final two jets are expected to arrive later in 2026.

Operational Deployment and Squadron Integration

Upon arrival at Nevatim Air Base in southern Israel, the new stealth fighters are slated for integration into the IAF’s existing operational infrastructure. Defense analysis indicates that the fleet is distributed among key units, including the 140th “Golden Eagle” Squadron and the 116th “Lions of the South” Squadron.

Strengthening the “Adir” Fleet

The F-35i, known in Israel as the “Adir” (Mighty One), serves as a central pillar of the country’s multi-front defense strategy. The delivery on Sunday reinforces the IAF’s ability to conduct long-range missions and maintain air superiority in a contested region. According to the source report, the IDF confirmed the landing, emphasizing that the purchase is part of a multi-year strategy to raise the fleet count from 25 to the full complement of 50.

“The IDF announced on Sunday that three F-35i aircraft have landed at Nevatim Air Force Base… which increases Israel’s quantity of F-35 aircraft to 48.”

, Yonah Jeremy Bob, via Yahoo News

Technical Specifications and Future Procurement

While the base airframe is manufactured by Lockheed Martin in the United States, the F-35i variant is unique globally due to extensive Israeli modifications. These enhancements allow the IAF to tailor the platform to specific regional threats.

Indigenous Systems Integration

Industry data confirms that the “Adir” is the only F-35 variant that integrates a custom Electronic Warfare (EW) suite on top of the standard avionics. Developed by Elbit Systems, this overlay allows the IAF to counter advanced surface-to-air missile systems. Furthermore, the aircraft features a “plug-and-play” architecture for Israeli weaponry, including Rafael’s SPICE precision bombs and Python-5 air-to-air missiles.

Expansion to 75 Aircraft

While the current delivery brings the count to 48 out of an initial 50, the procurement pipeline remains active. In June 2024, Israel signed a subsequent agreement worth approximately $3 billion to acquire an additional 25 F-35 jets. This third squadron will eventually bring the total Israeli fleet to 75 aircraft by the late 2020s or early 2030s. Deliveries for this new tranche are projected to begin in 2028.

AirPro News Analysis

The arrival of these three airframes represents more than just a logistical update; it signals the maturity of the F-35 program within the IAF. Initially viewed as a “future asset,” the Adir has transitioned into a battle-proven workhorse, having seen extensive utilization in recent conflicts including the Iron Swords War. The ability to integrate three new jets immediately into operational rotation suggests that the IAF’s maintenance and logistical pipelines at Nevatim have stabilized, allowing for a seamless absorption of new inventory.

Furthermore, as the fleet approaches the 50-jet mark, we anticipate a shift in focus from basic fleet building to advanced capability expansion, specifically regarding the integration of external fuel tanks and conformal fuel tanks to extend range for potential long-distance operations without aerial refueling.

Sources

Sources: Yahoo News / Jerusalem Post