IAF negotiates purchase of 100 F-35 fighter jets in $5 billion deal

[bemildred]

Lessee, that's 20 for a billion, so that's $50 million per each.

FORT WORTH, Texas- Israel Air Force is considering ordering 100 of Lockheed Martins' F-35 fighter jets at a cost of some 5 billion dollars to be delivered as of 2014.

In recent months, senior IAF officers and defense ministry officials have visited the U.S. in order to sign an advanced deal which would allow the aircraft to be with fitted with electronic and communication systems according to their specific requirements.

Sources report negotiations have been progressing despite the troubled relationship between the American and Israel defense industries which has been on edge since U.S. opposition caused the cancellation of a deal Israel signed to deliver China with four surveillance aircraft last year.

The F-35 project, funded jointly by the U.S., Canada and the U.K., is still in the developmental stage and is scheduled to fly for the first time in late 2006.

Haaretz

[featherman]

1. Who's paying for them? Us or them? Just asking

[PSPS]

3. We (you and I) are

The US taxpayer funds virtually the entire Israeli budget. So this is funneling more of the US treasury to bush's cronies.

[IntiRaymi]

5. Influence in D.C. is a good investment.

The israeli budget is not funded entirely by the US Government. Aid is to the tune of roughly $3 billion dollars a year.

[Phx_Dem]

6. Not hardly

Israel's '07 military budget is 7.7 bil, with another 1.9 bil added to cover costs of the Leb/Hez. war (spread over 3 years). For '07 Israel will receive 2.3 bil from the US for defense.

[Howardx]

2. sounds like we are selling them our latest fighter

almost before we get it. not sure im down with that

[bemildred]

4. When you print money, who pays for it? nt