Lt. Gen. Michael Schmidt, program executive officer for the F-35, stated that the U.S. sent capability updates to Israel’s F-35 fighters after Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack. Schmidt confirmed that the improvements rushed to Israel occurred after Hamas’ deadly attack that killed at least 1,200 people and that more than 18,000 people have died as a result of subsequent Israeli air and ground attacks in the Gaza Strip.
Bill LaPlante, the U.S. undersecretary of defense for acquisition and sustainment, said at the hearing that the F-35 program was recently able to hurry updated mission data files to Israel in a week or week and a half. Mission data files are essential for the jet’s combat operations.
LaPlante stated in written remarks that Israel has 35 of its 39 F-35s operating and carrying out missions, with the help of a surge in sustainment support to maximize the nation’s aircraft readiness. The subcommittee’s chairman, Rep. Rob Wittman, R-Va., said at the hearing the F-35 Joint Program Office moved quickly to support Israel by accelerating its jets’ weapons capabilities and increasing the flow of spare parts.
The F-35 program “is still not where it needs to be on these mission data files,” but the recent rapid updating of these files is a good sign. Schmidt told lawmakers Israel’s F-35s have performed “absolutely outstanding” in its war to eliminate Hamas, with high rates of aircraft able to carry out their missions.
