Four IAF pilots arrived in a Lockheed Martin in the United States a number of weeks ago to begin familiarizing themselves with the F-35 Lighting II fighter plane.

25 of the stealth-capable state-of-art planes were approved for sale to Israel and officials in Jerusalem are hopeful the final signatures will be affixed to close the deal by year’s end.  The approval received from the US Congress for the 25 fighter jets also includes a future option for 50 additional futuristic planes at a later date.

Each aircraft carries a hefty $100 million price tag. Israel is hopeful the first plane will arrive in 2014.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)