JERUSALEM, March 21 (Reuters) - The Israeli air force said on Friday it was suspending training flights using U.S.-made F-16I fighter jets after finding a suspected cancer-causing substance in the cockpit.

Israel informed Lockheed Martin Corp <LMT.N>, the U.S. defence contractor that manufactures the F-16, that formaldehyde residues were leaking into the cockpit, the military said in a statement.

"Tests have shown that the substance is formaldehyde, which was recently identified as a carcinogen," the statement said.

The two-seater F-16I, known in Israel as the "Storm", was designed specifically for the Israeli air force.

"The air force has passed the information to the aircraft manufacturer, Lockheed Martin, and tests are being coordinated with the company," the statement said.

The air force did not say whether non-training flights were affected. (Writing by Joseph Nasr; Editing by Giles Elgood)

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