Israel to buy F-35

Defense Minister Ehud Barak gave final approval on Sunday for Israel to submit a relatively small order for 20 F-35 joint strike fighters. The cost of the deal is approximately $2.75 billion and the first jet will be delivered in 2015. While the Pentagon has approved an Israeli request to purchase 75 aircraft, Israel plans – at the initial stage – to only buy around 20 JSFs. The deal is