Israel, the most powerful military state in the Middle East, will receive its first of 50 Northrop Grumman F-35 Lightning II stealth fighters on Dec. 12 at very public ceremonies to be attended by U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter.

The first two of these fifth generation stealth, multirole fighters -- considered the best and most sophisticated fighters in the world -- will land at the Israeli Air Force's (IAF) Nevatim Airbase in Be'er Sheva (the largest city in the Negev Desert section in southern Israel).

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Israel's fleet of F-35s will be based at Nevatim Airbase. The Israeli F-35s are designated F-35I "Adir." The word "adir" is Hebrew for "mighty."

The F-35I is a variant of the standard F-35A but customized according to the IAF's needs. It features advanced stealth capabilities that help pilots evade sophisticated missile systems.

Israel is the first country in the Middle East to receive the F-35 and will be the first country outside the United States with an operational F-35 squadron. Each Israeli F-35I costs an estimated $96 million.

Carter and Israeli Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman will be at Nevatim to welcome the arrival of the first two F-35ls.

"I think we don't fully understand the big advantage of the F-35," said an Israeli air force official.

"I think it's going to be learned in the next few months, maybe years. I think it's a very super-tech airplane."

The first F-35ls are expected to become operational by late 2017. It can mount an array of weapons and go supersonic at Mach 1.6 (1,900 km/h).

The F-35l might be modified to carry nuclear bombs but Israel will never confirm this capability.

Lockheed Martin said the Israeli F-35Is have been designed to deal with the most advanced threat systems now being fielded in the Middle East.

The F-35Is will help Israel maintain its already massive military edge in the Middle East, particularly as its main enemy, Iran, is actively enhancing its military influence in the region. 

TagsIsrael, F-35l "Adir", Israeli Air Force, Northrop Grumman F-35 Lightning II, Nevatim Airbase, U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter, Minister of Defense Avigdor Lieberman