Nine multifunctional fighter-bombers F-35 "Adir" on Wednesday, December 6, took up combat duty in the Air Force of the IDF.

After a test period lasting exactly one year, the aircraft were recognized as fully equipped for combat missions.

Recall that the first two aircraft of the 50 that the IDF should receive by 2024 in the framework of previously concluded contracts with the US, arrived at the base "Nevatim" in December 2016. During the tests, not only the flight qualities of the fighter were checked, but its "acclimatization" to the conditions of the Middle East was carried out, and also the retraining of pilots was completed.

In this regard, it is noted that Israel became the first foreign country to receive the F-35. The Air Force notes that the F-35 will act independently and in joint squadrons with F-15 and F-16.

For the first time, the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II, called abbreviated F-35 in Israel or "Adir," which can be translated from Hebrew as "mighty" or "huge," was shown to the Israeli public during the Air Show on the occasion of Independence Day. At the same time, it was explained that these five-generation multifunctional fighter-bombers equipped with built-in four-barrel 25-mm cannon GAU-22 / A, produced in the US specifically for Israel and called F-35 Israel.

The car is characterized by relative ease, high maneuverability and low visibility for radars. With their appearance in the Air Force of the IDF, Israel is expected to increase its advantage in the air over potential enemy aircraft.

In October 2010, the Israeli Air Force agreed to purchase the first batch of 20 F-35 fighters ($ 96 million per aircraft). Israel requested permission from the US to install a number of additional systems from its own developments in the field of avionics and armaments to the fighter planes.

On November 28, 2016, Israel's security cabinet approved the purchase of another 17 F-35 units. The total number of ordered aircraft was 50.

Source: Vesti.