Israel will provide electronic warfare equipment for the Lockheed Martin-made (NYSE: LMT) F-35 jet under a $450 million agreement, Aviation Week reports.
This agreement puts the country closer to signing a 19-jet, $2.75 billion purchase of the F-35 from the U.S. through a foreign military sale, David Eshel and David Fulghum report.
A previous agreement announced in 2008 included the option to buy up to 75 jets for close to $15.2 billion, according to the report.
Israel is also considering adding a second squadron in its upcoming multiyear acquisition budget, although the option is being weighed against other military priorities, Eshel and Fulghum report.
The country will reportedly receive the jets with a Harris Corp.-made data link, which uses six antennas to provide spherical coverage and using a daisy chain scheme to transmit information.