Israel Aerospace Industries will receive a multi-year contract from Lockheed Martin to manufacture up to 900 wing pairs for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter under a new industrial co-operation agreement.
The expected pact will follow the signature of a letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) by Israel to purchase 20 F-35s for its air force.
Israeli defence minister Ehud Barak has rejected a demand by finance minister Yuval Steinitz to review the proposed $2.75 billion deal, and the LOA was due to be signed in late August.
The deal with IAI will form part of a wider industrial agreement now being finalised. This is expected to see Israeli companies secure work on the JSF programme worth around $4 billion.
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