The Israeli Air Force (IAF) is considering buying 20 additional F-35 Joint Strike Fighters as part of the future IDF multiyear procurement plan.

Built by Lockheed Martin, the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter is a single-seat, single-engine, fifth-generation multirole fighter, which is used for ground attack, reconnaissance and air defence missions with stealth capability.

If signed, the second contract will take the number of F-35s, to be operated by the IAF, to 40 aircraft by the end of the decade, according to the Jerusalem Post.

In October 2010, Israel awarded a $2.75bn contract to Lockheed to supply 20 F-35 aircraft, which are slated for delivery in late 2016 or early 2017.