Israel plans to develop an unmanned combat aircraft comparable in capability to the US-made F-35 fighter, Bloomberg reported.
Citing a senior official, the agency said the project forms part of a long-term strategy to reduce Israel’s reliance on US military aid. Over the next decade, the country intends to replace part of that support with joint weapons development and production programs. Foreign partners are expected to take part in the unmanned aircraft project.
Israeli analyst David Rodman warned that if current trends in US policy continue, Israel could eventually be barred from purchasing American fighter-bombers.
Bloomberg noted that the Israeli Air Force currently relies mainly on propeller-driven drones for tactical missions. The push toward more advanced aviation systems is aimed at expanding domestic defense capabilities amid growing international isolation and the risk of restrictions on US arms supplies over the fighting in Gaza and the military campaign against Iran.
The agency also recalled that Israel has faced pressure from foreign weapons suppliers before. After France imposed an arms embargo in the late 1960s, Israel began producing the Nesher and Kfir combat aircraft, but discontinued them several years later.
Roughly a decade afterward, under pressure from the United States, Israel abandoned further development of the advanced Lavi fighter-bomber.