![F-35 stealth fighter jet touch down at Nevatim Air Base near Beersheba. [Israeli Army/Anadolu Agency]](https://i0.wp.com/d2.middleeastmonitor.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/F-35-stealth-fighter-jets-arrive-in-Israel-F35.jpg?fit=920%2C613&ssl=1)
Israeli media reported on Friday that the US Department of Defense and intelligence authorities are preventing Israeli pilots from flying F-35 fighter jets, fearing information technology leaks.
Israeli newspaper The Jerusalem Post said that this came as a result of the US increasing focus on information security and safeguarding its interests.
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The Israeli Air Force, the newspaper reported, accepted this US decision and stopped assigning pilots to F-35 Adir aircraft.
The Adir fighter jet is a single-seater, multi-mission stealth plane that can be used for intelligence gathering and attack missions.
It is also the only fighter jet with a compartment for storing untraceable weaponry.
Each F-35 Adir fighter jet costs between $85 million and $100 million.