JERUSALEM — May 14, 2026 : The Israel Ministry of Defense (IMOD) has signed a contract worth more than $34 million (over 100 million shekels) with Elbit Systems subsidiary Cyclone to develop extended-range capabilities for the Israeli Air Force’s F-35I Adir fighter jets through the integration of external fuel tanks.
The agreement was brokered by the IMOD’s Defense Procurement Directorate (DPD) as part of Israel’s broader long-term military modernization and force buildup strategy. Cyclone, a wholly owned subsidiary of Elbit Systems specializing in aerostructures and airborne structural components, will adapt an existing external fuel tank design originally developed for Israel’s F-16 fighter fleet to meet the operational and technical requirements of the F-35I platform.
According to Israeli defense officials, the project is intended to significantly extend the operational range of the F-35I fleet, reduce reliance on aerial refueling aircraft, and provide greater flexibility during long-range missions. The standard F-35 platform has an operational range of approximately 1,200 miles (2,220 kilometers), and the Israeli Air Force has increasingly focused on range-extension capabilities amid evolving regional security requirements.
The development marks the first known effort to integrate external fuel tanks onto an F-35 aircraft. While the addition of external tanks increases fuel capacity and mission endurance, it also alters the aircraft’s radar signature and low-observable characteristics. Defense officials and industry analysts note that the trade-off is considered operationally manageable, particularly because external tanks can be jettisoned before the aircraft enters heavily contested airspace during combat missions.
The aircraft and fuel tank system will undergo extensive testing to evaluate aerodynamic performance, structural loads, and compatibility with onboard electronic and mission systems. Previous Israeli studies had examined both conformal fuel tanks and detachable external tanks as potential methods to extend the F-35I’s combat radius while preserving stealth performance where possible.
Cyclone has previously supplied external fuel tanks and structural components for multiple fighter aircraft programs, including the F-16, F-15, and F/A-18. The company will conduct development and integration work at its facilities in Israel.
Israeli officials said the contract forms part of a wider strategic defense initiative led by Defense Minister Israel Katz and IMOD Director General Maj. Gen. (Res.) Amir Baram. The strategy is aimed at strengthening Israel’s military readiness and maintaining the country’s aerial and strategic superiority during what defense planners describe as an increasingly complex regional security environment.
The operational requirement for expanded strike range has been shaped by recent regional conflicts and operational experience gathered from missions conducted in areas with advanced and layered air defense systems, including those linked to Iran and Syria.
Israel currently operates 50 F-35I aircraft across two operational squadrons, making it the largest F-35 operator outside the United States. The F-35I Adir incorporates Israeli-developed electronic warfare systems, communications equipment, computing architecture, and weapons integration capabilities integrated into the American-made stealth fighter platform.
Earlier this month, the Israeli government announced plans to negotiate an expansion of the F-35I fleet to 100 aircraft, alongside parallel growth of the F-15IA fleet. The procurement plans are part of a broader defense spending initiative expected to increase Israel’s military budget by hundreds of billions of shekels over the coming decade.
Neither the Israel Ministry of Defense nor Elbit Systems disclosed a production or delivery timeline for the external fuel tank program.
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