According to the Israeli newspaper Globe that published the information on November 30, Israel’s Ministry of Defense is in talks with Canada’s Top Aces for the purchase of 29 surplus F-16A/B fighters. Israel is asking for between $3 million and $4 million for each jet, according to Globe The Ministry of Defense’s International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT) is responsible for the talks.
These F-16s were delivered to Israel in the early 1980s and over the past decade have been gradually phased out of service. The Ministry of Defense’s International Defense Cooperation Directorate (SIBAT) is responsible for the talks with Montreal-based defense contractor Top Aces, which specializes in the procurement of older fighter aircraft, which are used in training as “staged enemy aircraft) by air forces and navies. In this case, the F-16s could serve in maneuvers for the US Air Force, which signed a contract with Top Aces last year. The company also provides training services to the air forces of Canada and Germany. It owns a fleet of Douglas A-4 SkyHawks and F-16 Fighting Falcons aircraft and has conducted more than 80,000 hours of training worldwide.