Israel Air Force Gets 3 F-35I Fighter jets

The Israel Air Force (IAF) received three F-35I ‘Adir’ combat jets on Friday.

IAF said the jets landed at the Bacha-28 air base, where the official ceremony of accepting the aircraft into the Air Force took place. They joined IAF’s 140th squadron.

The air force conducted a series of tests this week using Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) bombs on the aircraft's outer pylons. This is the first test of this type of bomb on external pylons in Israel and the second in the world after the U.S.

Israel is the first country after the U.S. to operate F-35s. It receives these planes for free as military aid.

Earlier this month, the country’s defense ministry announced plans to acquire 25 F-35 jets worth $3 billion to form a third squadron of the "Adir" aircraft.