The United States has allowed Israel to purchase 25 F-35 stealth-enabled Joint Strike Fighters (JSF) to kick some Middle Eastern ass at a price tag of $15.2 billion.  (So, $700 billion take away $15.2 billion is… er….)

You know the F-35. It’s the jet that can take off and land while hovering. (That’s sorta useful when enemy bombs target runways.  We don’t need no stinkin’ runaway!  Asheklon anyone?)

Did I mention that it also has stealth technology?

A Pentagon official said Wednesday that the sale of the stealth jets to Israel was essential to American national interests and was meant to ensure that Israel maintained its qualitative edge over armies of neighboring countries.

Israel’s interest in the short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft was first reported in The Jerusalem Post in December 2007. The decision to consider the F-35B was made due to an understanding that in a time of war, Israeli bases and runways would be heavily targeted by enemy missiles.

In this configuration, the F-35B can hover, land vertically, take off in a few hundred feet fully-loaded, or take off vertically with a light load. When the aircraft transitions from jet-borne to conventional wing-borne flight, the doors close and the pilot can then accelerate to supersonic speeds.

Let’s go to the video:

I’m sure the new jets have NOTHING to do with this situation.

[source: JPost]

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