$20 Billion U.S. Arms Package Approved for Israel

(LibertySociety.com) – The State Department notified Congress on August 13 that it had approved a total of roughly $20 billion in US weapons sales to Israel that includes up to 50 F-15 fighter jets.

In a series of press releases, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency confirmed that Secretary of State Blinken had approved the sale of the F-15s along with related equipment like mid-life update modification kits for a total cost of $18.82 billion. The Secretary of State also approved the sale of 30 advanced air-to-air medium-range missiles (AMRAAMs) and one guidance section for an estimated cost of $102.5 million. Also approved was the sale of 32,739 120mm tank cartridges and 50,000 M933A1 120mm mortar cartridges valued at $774.1 million and $61.1 million respectively.

The Secretary of State also approved the sales of medium tactical vehicles valued at $583.1 million. The total number of vehicles included in the sale was not specified.

While the weapons sales were approved by Blinken following meetings with Israeli officials, the US Congress must sign off on the purchase.

Under US law, any weapons sales to foreign countries must first gain congressional approval. Congress has up to 30 days to sign off on or overrule the Secretary of State’s approval.

While the weapons sale will likely cause a stir among those who oppose US support for Israel’s war in Gaza, the weapons included in the sale are not expected to be delivered for several years.

For example, the 50 F-15s will not be delivered until 2029. The tactical vehicles are expected to be delivered in 2026. The tank cartridges and mortar cartridges will be delivered to Israel in 2027 and 2026 respectively.

No delivery date was named for the medium-range missiles. According to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, the missiles “will be sourced from new production.”

Defense Minister Yoav Gallant thanked Secretary Blinken and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin in a post on X last week, saying that the approved weapons sales would help advance Israel’s “critical force buildup initiatives” so it could develop and maintain a “qualitative military edge” in the region.