In a reflection of the Biden administration’s steadfast military support for Israel’s defense against Hamas and other regional threats in the Middle East, the U.S. State Department has approved five Foreign Military Sales (FMS) to Israel that are worth more than $20 billion.
The sales include nearly $19 billion for 50 Boeing [BA] F-15IA new multi-role fighter aircraft and upgrades to Israel’s 25 F-15Is, more than $774 million for 32,739 General Dynamics [GD] and Northrop Grumman [NOC] 120 mm tank cartridges–the 120mm M1147 High Explosive Multi-Purpose with Tracer (HEMP-T) cartridges and/or 120mm M830A1 High Explosive Multi-Purpose Anti-Tank (MPAT) with Tracer cartridges; more than $583 million for an unspecified number of Oshkosh Corp. [OSK] modified M1148A1P2 Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV) Load Handling System 8-ton cargo trucks; and $102 million for 30 RTX [RTX] AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAMs), the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said on Aug. 13.
“AMRAAMs are a key aerial combat capability used to defend against airborne threats, such as the missile and drone salvo launched at Israel on April 14,” DSCA said. “The proposed sale will improve Israel’s capability to meet current and future enemy threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and serve as a deterrent to regional threats. Israel will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.”
The State Department also gave the go ahead on Aug. 13 to a more than $61 million FMS sale to Israel of 50,000 General Dynamics M933A1 120mm High Explosive (HE) mortar cartridges with M783 fuzes.