JERUSALEM, Nov. 25 (Xinhua) -- Israel will continue to demand that its own electronic-warfare (EW) systems be integrated into the Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) fifth-generation stealth fighter jet F-35, local daily The Jerusalem Post cited senior defense officials as saying Wednesday.

    The Israeli demand came amid U.S. media reports that the Pentagon would not allow the installation of an Israeli EW system in the plane, which will be one of the most advanced fighter jets in the world and will enable Israel to phase out some of its olderF-15 and F-16 models.

    "Our demands have never changed -- to be allowed to integrate special munitions, communications and radar and EW," a senior Israeli defense official was quoted as saying on Tuesday. "This is the same with regard to the JSF."

    On Tuesday, Jon Schreiber, the Pentagon official in charge of the JSF said that for now, the U.S. did not plan to allow Israel to put in its own EW system.

    On the other hand, Schreiber said the U.S. would allow the Israel Air Force (IAF) to integrate Israeli precision guidance bombs, such as the Spice -- made by Rafael Systems Ltd. -- into the jet.

    "Sometime in the future, if policy changes, or things change, that could change as well," said Schreiber regarding the integration of Israeli EW systems.

    The refusal to let Israel to integrate the systems into the JSF would be a bad break for the IAF, which in previous purchases of aircraft, including the F-15 and F-16, had been allowed to incorporate such technology, said the report.

    In January 2010, the U.S. will submit to Israel its offer and the final price of the F-35, estimated to reach at least 130 million U.S. dollars. Israel will need to respond by March and sign a contract within the year in order to begin receiving the plane by 2015.

    According to the IAF, the plane, manufactured by Lockheed Martin, will significantly boost Israel's deterrence in the Middle East and provide it with an edge over adversaries that operate advanced anti-aircraft systems, since it cannot be detected by existing radars.

Special Report: Palestine-Israel Conflicts