Israel gave final approval for ​a plan to purchase two new combat squadrons of F-35 and F-15IA advanced fighter aircraft from ‌Lockheed Martin and Boeing in a deal worth tens of billions of dollars, the defence ministry said on Sunday.

The deal, approved by Israel’s Ministerial Committee on Procurement, is a first step in a 350 billion shekel ($119 billion) plan to bolster Israel’s military and “strengthen readiness ahead ​of a demanding decade for Israeli security,” it said.