Boeing has flown the first of 25 F-15I Thunder strike aircraft for Israel. The F-15I has avionics and weapons unique to Israel, including an Elbit helmet-mounted display. The first aircraft will be handed over on 6 November. The Israeli defence ministry issued the formal request for information (RFI) for its next batch of fighters earlier in September. The F-15I and an extended-range variant of the Lockheed Martin F-16 are the two aircraft in contention.
Source: Flight International
The January incident at Ellsworth AFB resulted in the destruction of the $450 million bomber and a rare quadruple ejection of the crew, who were attempting to execute an instrument landing during poor weather.
Athens signed a long-sought letter of offer and acceptance with airframer Lockheed Martin covering 20 F-35 stealth fighters, with options for a further 20 jets.
The joint North American Aerospace Defense Command dispatched fighter aircraft from both the USA and Canada on 24 July to intercept a combined flight of bombers from Russia and China operating in international airspace around Alaska.
