Iran And China Ink $1 Billion Deal For Israeli-Designed Fighter Jets

October 24, 2007 2:13 p.m. EST

Tehran, Iran (AHN) - Iran has signed a deal with China to purchase 24 J-10 fighter jets developed with Israeli technology.

The J-10 aircrafts were developed based on technology borrowed from Israel's Lavi fighter jet, a project started in the 1980s, but later abandoned due to mounting pressure over concerns it would rival the American-made F-16. The technology for the Lavi jet was later sold to China by Israel, despite U.S. opposition to the deal.

The new arms agreement inked between Iran and China is estimated to be worth about $1 billion, with deliveries of the 24 jets expected between 2008 and 2010 as a replacement for Iran's current MiG-29 jets.

The new J-10 fighter jets have an operational range of about 3,000 kilometers, making Iran's newly acquired aircraft capable of striking Israel.