US approves billions of dollars of munitions for Israel

The US has approved billions of dollars of munitions for Israel, as the country looks to restock its inventories after one-and-a-half years of intensive military action in Gaza and Lebanon. (Israeli Air Force)

The US government has approved the sale of air-dropped munitions to Israel for an estimated USD2.68 billion.

Announced by the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) on 28 February, the two separate Department of State approvals cover bunker buster bombs and guidance kits for Israel for an estimated USD2.04 billion, as well as bomb bodies and precision-guidance kits for USD675.7 million.

“The proposed sale will improve Israel’s capability to meet current and future threats, strengthen its homeland defence, and serve as a deterrent to regional threats. Israel will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces,” the DSCA said of both approvals.

The larger of the State Department approvals covers 35,529 MK 84 or BLU-117 General Purpose (GP) 2,000 lb bomb bodies, or a combination of both, as well as 4,000 I-2000 Penetrator warheads. As noted in the announcement, deliveries are estimated to begin in 2026 and there is a possibility that a portion of this procurement will come from US stock.

The second approval covers 201 MK 83 MOD 4/MOD 5 GP 1,000 lb bomb bodies, 4,799 BLU-110A/B GP 1,000 lb bomb bodies, 1,500 KMU-559C/B Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits for the MK 83 bomb body, and 3,500 KMU-559J/B JDAM guidance kits for the MK 83 bomb body. “There will be no adverse impact on US defence readiness as a result of this proposed sale,” the DSCA said.

Both approvals include transportation, spares, and support.