Israel has announced the signing of a contract worth more than $34 million to develop “an extended-range” capability for the F-35 Adir fighter jet.
The Defence Ministry said in a statement on Thursday that its Defence Procurement Directorate signed the deal with Cyclone, a wholly owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems.
The agreement covers “the development of an extended-range capability for the F-35 ‘Adir’ fighter jet, manufactured by Lockheed Martin,” the statement added.
“The deal, valued at over $34 million (over NIS 100 million), covers the development and integration of external fuel tanks based on an existing Cyclone design originally developed for the F-16,” it said.
The new capability is expected to extend the aircraft’s “operational range, reduce reliance on aerial refuelling, and enhance operational flexibility across long-range missions,” the ministry said.
