On September 12, 2017 two Lockheed F-35Is arrived at Lajes in the Azores on their delivery flight to the Israeli Air Force. They continued their journey on the morning of September 14.
The aircraft were:-
908 "Retro11"
909 "Retro12"
They were supported by the US Air Force KC-10A Extender 85-0032 "Blue61".
The two F-35I Adirs will be the sixth and seventh F-35s delivered to Israel out of a current total order of thirty three aircraft. The Israelis plan to declare initial operating capability with the F-35I by December 2017.
Israeli Air Force F-35I Adirs 908 and 909 on the ramp at Lajes on September 12, 2017 (Andre Inacio)
Israeli Air Force F-35I Adir 909 at Lajes on September 12, 2017 (Andre Inacio)
US Air Force KC-10A 85-0032 provided air to air refueling for the Israeli F-35s (Andre Inacio)