Biden administration set to greenlight $18 billion sale of F-15 fighter jets to Israel
Biden administration set to greenlight $18 billion sale of F-15 fighter jets to Israel
The Biden administration is close to approving the sale of as many as 50 American-made F-15 fighter jets to Israel, in a deal expected to be worth more than $18 billion, according to three people familiar with the matter.
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The F-15 is an air superiority fighter. It is designed to destroy other aircraft, and has little use in the ongoing genocide in Gaza.
So when these are delivered in 5 years, who will Israel be attacking? Lebanon? Syria? Iran?
This deal feels more like a short-term bribe to keep the US military industrial complex on Israel's side.
The F-15 is an air superiority fighter
The F-15EX, the only one for which the production line is still open, is very much a multirole fighter, developed from the Strike Eagle bomber. Sure it can do air superiority, but it can carry a shitton of weapons to strike ground targets just the same.
But you're right, this is a long term order, which won't have impact on the current situation in Gaza. Additionally, it's a request that was initiated over a year ago, long before the whole situation in Gaza escalated: https://breakingdefense.com/2023/01/israel-formally-requests-25-f-15-ex-from-the-us-sources/
Probably Iran. Gotta keep the war economy rolling so nobody can oust leadership.
I mean yeah sorta
F-15Es are still used somewhat often for Air to Ground stuff, just not as much as other aircraft.
F-15Es are still used somewhat often for Air to Ground stuff
Somewhat often? It's their primary role. It's called the Strike Eagle and its nickname is the Mudhen for a reason.
Lol sorry I meant in the sense of multiple squadrons, lots of nations usually have other A-G aircraft and don't buy the F-15E because its an expensive heavyweight that also doubles as an interceptor.
But yeah obviously by itself that's what it was designed for.
The Ford F-150 is a work truck. Doesn't stop millions of people from using them as a commuter vehicle, even if they're not great at it.
Hell, I used my impact driver as a hammer the other day, and I used a screwdriver as a pry bar.
Just because it's not the primary role for a object doesn't mean it can't perform the role. The sale of arms to Israel is irresponsible at best and complicit at worst.
Yes the Ford F-150 can be used to commute, but you dont see UPS purchasing a new fleet of F-150s to deliver packages. People dont usually accept that level of inefficiency when the price tag is measured in billions.
My point was that the US has a variety of child-shredding and apartment-exploding warplanes that they would be happy to sell to Israel, so why did Israel choose the plane-destroying version instead?
Other commenters gave a good answer: these are likely in the F-15E family, which are equipped to shred children and explode apartments.
I thought that's why they call it a hammer drill
If the US didn't have planes specifically designed for air to ground, the F-15 would do the job more than adequately. The F-15E has been used in that role
Edit: see below
The US didn’t have planes specifically designed for air to ground
They do have three, not counting the big bombers: Harrier, AC-130 and A-10, though they are more specialised and niche.
Sorry, I typoed. I meant to say "If the US didn't have...", my bad. You are absolutely correct