Israel Receives 3 More F-35 Warplanes, Inventory Goes up to 12

Israel’s Air Force has received three more stealthy F-35 aircraft on Sunday, bringing its total inventory of the fifth-generation fighters up to 12.

The F-35I "Adir" jets arrived at the Israeli Air Forces’ Nevatim base, southeast of Beersheba, on Sunday afternoon, local media reports.

“In a short while, the aircraft will begin taking part in the IAF’s operational activity,” the air force said.

Israel has agreed to purchase 50 F-35 fighters in total from the United States, which are scheduled to be delivered in instalments of twos and threes by 2024.

Israel began receiving the fifth-generation F-35 stealth fighter from the United States in December 2016. The aircraft were declared operational approximately a year later.