If the US does make the F-35 available to other Middle Eastern nations, this would undermine Israel’s military advantages
PHOTO: SHUTTERSTOCK/VANDERWOLF
Israel’s fleet of F-35 stealth fighters has been a game-changer over the last two years, with the Israeli Air Force deploying them to destroy Hamas tunnels in Gaza, a large portion of Hezbollah’s missile stocks in Lebanon, Houthi hideouts in Yemen, and to pulverize Iran’s air defenses.
Israel is the only Middle Eastern nation who possesses the F-35. This is primarily due to a 2008 US law that requires any proposed sales of military equipment to Israel’s adversaries undergo Congressional review to ensure they do not compromise Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME) — essentially, its military superiority.
Israeli intelligence officials are expressing new concerns that Israel’s regional military superiority faces a new threat from a global consortium aiming to compete with the US arms industry.
Michael Sweeney, a reporter for Intelligence Online, a France-based service that tracks and deciphers global intelligence activities, reported last week that a Mossad liaison cell in Tokyo has issued a stark warning about the potential involvement of Saudi Arabia in a Japanese, UK, and Italian consortium known as GCAP to develop sixth-generation fighter jets, with capabilities superior to the fifth-generation F-35.
Create a free account to keep reading.
