315
Biden administration set to greenlight $18 billion sale of F-15 fighter jets to Israel
(edition.cnn.com)
this post was submitted on 02 Apr 2024
315 points (95.4% liked)
World News
32321 readers
1064 users here now
News from around the world!
Rules:
-
Please only post links to actual news sources, no tabloid sites, etc
-
No NSFW content
-
No hate speech, bigotry, propaganda, etc
founded 5 years ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
The F-15EX, the only one for which the production line is still open, is very much a multirole fighter, developed from the Strike Eagle bomber. Sure it can do air superiority, but it can carry a shitton of weapons to strike ground targets just the same.
But you're right, this is a long term order, which won't have impact on the current situation in Gaza. Additionally, it's a request that was initiated over a year ago, long before the whole situation in Gaza escalated: https://breakingdefense.com/2023/01/israel-formally-requests-25-f-15-ex-from-the-us-sources/
Probably Iran. Gotta keep the war economy rolling so nobody can oust leadership.
I mean yeah sorta
F-15Es are still used somewhat often for Air to Ground stuff, just not as much as other aircraft.
Somewhat often? It's their primary role. It's called the Strike Eagle and its nickname is the Mudhen for a reason.
Lol sorry I meant in the sense of multiple squadrons, lots of nations usually have other A-G aircraft and don't buy the F-15E because its an expensive heavyweight that also doubles as an interceptor.
But yeah obviously by itself that's what it was designed for.
The Ford F-150 is a work truck. Doesn't stop millions of people from using them as a commuter vehicle, even if they're not great at it.
Hell, I used my impact driver as a hammer the other day, and I used a screwdriver as a pry bar.
Just because it's not the primary role for a object doesn't mean it can't perform the role. The sale of arms to Israel is irresponsible at best and complicit at worst.
Yes the Ford F-150 can be used to commute, but you dont see UPS purchasing a new fleet of F-150s to deliver packages. People dont usually accept that level of inefficiency when the price tag is measured in billions.
My point was that the US has a variety of child-shredding and apartment-exploding warplanes that they would be happy to sell to Israel, so why did Israel choose the plane-destroying version instead?
Other commenters gave a good answer: these are likely in the F-15E family, which are equipped to shred children and explode apartments.
I thought that's why they call it a hammer drill
If the US didn't have planes specifically designed for air to ground, the F-15 would do the job more than adequately. The F-15E has been used in that role
Edit: see below
They do have three, not counting the big bombers: Harrier, AC-130 and A-10, though they are more specialised and niche.
Sorry, I typoed. I meant to say "If the US didn't have...", my bad. You are absolutely correct