(Globes) Ran Dagoni - Israel has publicly announced the efforts of its air force to double the flight range of the F-35 Stealth strike fighters. The Israeli version of the plane, manufactured by Lockheed Martin according to Israeli specifications, is called Adir (Awesome). The first two Adirs will be delivered to Israel in December 2016. An Israeli air force officer, one of the initial cadre of pilots tapped to fly the F-35, told Defense News that with the plane, "your options for attacking the enemy are much more numerous and practical. The things that we could do before will entail much less risk, and the things we might not have been able to do before will be rendered doable." He said that the stealth fighters change "the psychology of the arena by allowing you to hit the enemy without him being able to stop you....It really is a game-changer, and the enemy knows that." Lockheed Martin is now working with Israel's Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd. to adapt Israeli-made air-to-ground weaponry to the plane. At the same time, Lockheed Martin is considering Israeli ideas for (probably detachable) external fuel tanks on the plane's wings in order to extend their range.
2015-09-11 00:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive