Israel Defense Ministry Urged to Seek F-47 Partnership to Safeguard Military Edge Amid Saudi F-35 Deal

Former Defense official Amir Eshel warns that Saudi F-35 deals threaten Israel's military edge, recommending a shift toward 6th-gen F-47 technology.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 28, 2026, 4:52 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from FDD

Strategic Imperatives for Maintaining Regional Superiority

The cornerstone of the U.S. Israel alliance remains the statutory commitment to Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge (QME), a policy codified in the Arms Export Control Act to ensure regional stability. However, the shifting alliances of the post October 7 landscape, particularly the expansion of the Abraham Accords and the potential for Saudi Israeli normalization, have introduced new complexities to this defense framework. While these diplomatic developments offer strategic opportunities, they also catalyze large scale transfers of advanced American weaponry to regional powers. Major General Amir Eshel argues that Israel must look beyond current diplomatic warmth and focus on decades long capability planning, as regional leadership and alliances in the Middle East can shift with little warning.

The Proliferation of Stealth Technology in the Gulf

Current defense trend dynamics suggest that approximately 50 F-35 Lightning II aircraft are slated for transfer to Saudi Arabia as part of a broader 20-Point Plan orchestrated by the Trump administration. This sale, which was previously rejected by U.S. policymakers, marks a significant departure from established export constraints and poses a direct challenge to the Israel Air Force's regional air dominance. Beyond the F-35, the proliferation of upgraded F-15 variants, precision stand-off munitions, and high altitude armed UAVs across Gulf air forces threatens to saturate Israel’s defense networks. Eshel notes that such transfers not only pose a direct threat but also increase the risk of sensitive U.S. and Israeli modified technology being exposed to global competitors like Russia and China.

Lessons from Recent Aerial Engagements over Iran

The unique operational advantages of the Israeli F-35I Adir were recently validated during major regional conflicts, specifically Operation Rising Lion in June 2025 and Operation Roaring Lion in March 2026. In these engagements, Israeli stealth fighters successfully penetrated dense Iranian air defense networks to conduct precision strikes and orchestrate real time battlespace intelligence. These operations demonstrated that undetected penetration and air dominance are the "game changers" that currently define Israel’s military advantage. The transfer of identical platforms to regional actors, even those currentl...