Israel will seek to purchase new weapons systems from US as compensation for Saudi F-35 sale

A source told Walla that the IDF would prefer that no other country in the Middle East receive the stealth fighter, in order to preserve Israel's qualitative operational advantage.

The United States informed the Prime Minister's Office that it intends to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia in a $25 billion deal, an Israeli official confirmed to Walla on Friday.

Israel is expected to seek "compensation" from Washington in the form of weapons systems that the US has so far declined to sell to Israel.

A source familiar with the details told Walla that the IDF would prefer that no other country in the Middle East receive the stealth fighter, in order to preserve Israel's qualitative operational advantage. However, the source stressed that even if the deal is signed soon, Saudi Arabia would receive its first aircraft only in five years.

Walla was also told that Israel continues to hold a clear operational advantage over other countries that have purchased the aircraft from the United States. That advantage stems not only from the extensive operational experience accumulated by the Israel Air Force and its pilots over the past three years, but also from Israeli-made weapons systems that Israel has received approval to integrate into its Adir aircraft, the Israeli version of the F-35.

Israel also operates an Adir test aircraft used to develop advanced capabilities for the fighter. The United States, for example, does not operate an aircraft of this type.

Another defense official sought to play down concerns, saying the Israel Air Force's advantage lies "not just in the machine, but mainly in the people."

Following the Saudi-US deal and the wider arms race in the Middle East, Israeli officials are already planning to approach negotiations with the US administration differently over future procurement deals.

Israel seeking to participate in production of classified weapons systems

Israeli officials will also seek participation in the development and production of classified weapons systems.

The IDF's focus is not limited to advanced fighter jets and the next generation of stealth aircraft. It also includes the development of space-based weapons and US participation in the development and production of interceptors for the Arrow 4 and Arrow 5 systems, which are intended to address future threats.

There are also advanced munitions that the United States has declined to sell to Israel. These include systems in the field of bunker-busting weapons, systems designed to operate underground deep inside rocky mountains, autonomous strike systems, and swarms of unmanned aerial vehicles.

Israel is currently struggling to finance a third F-15 squadron and additional F-35 squadrons.