In July of 1999, Israel announced that it would like to order 50 two-seat multi-role F-16Is, the order being placed under the terms of the Peace Marble V FMS program. This announcement was a disappointment to Boeing, since they hoped to sell Israel more F-15Is.
The F-16I for Israel is based on current Block 50/52 production aircraft and will be equipped with the Northrop Grumman AN/APG-68(V)X fire control radar. The F-16I contract will also include Lockeed Martin LANTIRN navigation and targeting pods. The planes will also be provided with Israeli-built equipment to make them compatible with the Raytheon Python 4 AAM and the Popeye 2 ASM.
Initially, the Israeli government did not specify whether the F-16I would be powered by the Pratt & Whitney F100-PW-229 or the General Electric F110-GE-129 engines. In mid 1999, Israel announced that it had selected the Pratt and Whitney F100-PW-229 turbofan as the engine for its 50 F-16Is. The F-15I contract was officially signed on January 14, 2000, and included an option to buy an additional 52 aircraft, which was later exercised. This made the F-16I order the largest Israeli F-16 order yet. Initial deliveries are scheduled to begin in 2004 and should take about three years to complete.
The first F-16I made its maiden flight on December 23, 2003 at the Lockheed Martin facility in Fort Worth, Texas. The first IDF/AF F-16I was officially handed over to the IDF/AF at Ft Worth, TX Nov 14, 2003. The F-16I will be known as the Soufa (Storm) in IDF/AF service. The first unit to operate the F-16I was the Negev Squadron, which was reformed at Ramon on July 27, 2003 to operate the Suefa. The next unit to reequip with the Suefa will be the Orange Tail Knights Squadron, also at Ramon, followed by the Bat Squadron.
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