The British government is facing renewed pressure to suspend involvement in the F-35 fighter jet programme after Israeli officials confirmed the aircraft has been used extensively during the war in Gaza.
Anti-arms campaigners say the remarks undermine ministers’ longstanding insistence that Israel is only a “minor customer” within the global F-35 programme.
Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, said Israeli pilots have accumulated more flight hours on the F-35 than those of any other foreign partner involved in developing the aircraft.
Speaking about a recent visit to the United States, Mr Leiter said the chief executive of Lockheed Martin told him that Israel’s operational data and technological developments linked to the jet “are worth many billions to my company”.
The comments have prompted a sharp response from the Campaign Against Arms Trade (Caat), which argues they directly contradict the UK government’s position on Israel’s role in the programme.
Britain manufactures around 15 per cent of each F-35 aircraft. Israel currently operates 48 of the jets and has a further 27 on order.
On 21 January, Declassified UK reported that three new F-35s had been transferred from RAF Mildenhall to Israel. The aircraft have also been deployed in Israeli air strikes beyond Gaza, including operations targeting Iran, Lebanon and Yemen.
Despite what campaigners describe as extensive evidence of Israel’s operational use of the jets, ministers have continued to downplay the country’s role.
Earlier this month, Middle East Minister Hamish Falconer stated: “The UK government has stopped direct exports of F-35 parts for use by Israel. The only exception is for the global programme, of which Israel is a minor customer.”
Caat disputes that assessment.
“Israel is plainly not a minor customer for the F-35 programme,” a spokesperson said.
“No other country has used the F-35 jet at near the rate that Israel has, let alone in two years of active combat. This cannot be overstated.”
The group further alleged that statements made by Lockheed Martin executives and US and Israeli officials in recent years suggest Israel’s combat use of the aircraft has been viewed as commercially significant for the programme.
Caat is calling on the government to “correct the record” regarding Israel’s role and to halt all transfers of F-35 components destined for the country.
The Department for Business & Trade has been approached for comment.
