The Israeli and US air forces have been conducting a dialogue over the past few months on Israel's procurement of a full stealth squadron. The stealth F-35 fighter aircraft can land vertically like a helicopter and take off on a 500 foot runway, sources inform "Walla." The F-35B stealth STOVL (short take-off and vertical-landing) model, manufactured by US aerospace giant Lockheed Martin, is designed to land and take off from naval aircraft carriers. Its engine and the technological developments installed on the aircraft are a breakthrough in modern warfare, and the B STOVL F-35 is the most advanced stealth aircraft.
Buying an F-35 B STOVL squadron will substantially upgrade the Israel Air Force's supremacy and enable it to reach more areas more secretly due to its short take-off vertical-landing capabilities. The fighter aircraft has just come into service in the US Air Force.
Israel has so far procured 34 F-35 A model aircraft, and the Israel Defense Forces has an option to buy 17 more. In recent years, the Israel Air Force has been engaged in raising its capabilities with an emphasis on combat aircraft as Hezbollah becomes better armed with missiles. Military intelligence sources in Israel estimate that Hezbollah has stored up over 130,000 missiles and rockets, mainly supplied by Iran. These include scud missiles that can reach virtually any target in Israel.
Hezbollah's next stage in arming includes purchasing more accurate missiles. This would present a more serious threat against the Israel Air Force's fighter aircraft and the runways at air force bases. Israeli experts envisage a scenario in which Hezbollah would open a Third Lebanon War with a barrage of thousands of missiles, some of them aimed at squadrons and air control units.
With this in mind, Israel Air Force bases have been conducting exercises in which aircraft take off and land while coming under missile fire. One of the lessons learned from these exercises is how to operate in a scenario in which the runways are hit by missiles. Special teams have been set up that can rebuild and repair the runways with special materials.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes-online.com - on December 13, 2015
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