The State Department has officially approved a series of weapon purchases by Israel, paving the way for Jerusalem to acquire F-15 fighter jets, munitions, and vehicles, with a cumulative estimated cost exceeding $20 billion.
This deal comes at a particularly sensitive time for the region: Iran and the proxy group Hezbollah are anticipated to retaliate following the suspected Israeli assassinations of Hezbollah’s military chief Fuad Shukr in Beirut, Lebanon, and Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, Iran.
The announcement was made through a congressional notification from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), although it is not finalized. The quantities and dollar amounts often change during negotiations. Today’s announcement provides lawmakers with a 30-day window to potentially block the deal, although such an action seems unlikely, especially since two prominent Democrats who opposed the sale have now signaled their approval for it to proceed.
Rep. Gregory Meeks, a Democrat from New York and the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, previously withheld support for the transaction over humanitarian concerns regarding Israel’s ongoing conflict with Hamas in Gaza, where Palestinian health authorities report over 38,000 fatalities. Sen. Ben Cardin, a Maryland Democrat and chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, also endorsed the sale alongside Meeks, as reported by the Washington Post in June. Their Republican counterparts had already expressed support for the arms deals.
At the forefront of the approved weapons is the F-15 manufactured by Boeing. Under one of the sales authorized by the State Department, Israel is set to purchase up to 50 new F-15IA aircraft—Israel’s designation for the latest model of F-15s—along with 25 modification kits for existing F-15I jets, totaling $18.8 billion. This sale also includes 120 F110 engines from GE Aerospace, as well as radars, secure GPS devices, and various subsystems. Deliveries are expected to commence in 2029, according to the notification.
Additionally, Israel has been cleared to acquire medium tactical vehicles and related equipment for $583.1 million, although the total number of vehicles remains unspecified. The main contractor for this purchase is Oshkosh Corporation, with deliveries anticipated to start in 2026. The other three sales focus on replenishing Israeli munitions, which include:
- 32,739 120mm tank cartridges for a total of $774.1 million, with deliveries expected to commence in 2027.
- 50,000 120mm high-explosive mortar cartridges priced at $61.1 million, estimated to arrive starting in 2026. General Dynamics is identified as the main contractor for both types of 120mm weapons, with Northrop Grumman also listed for the tank cartridges.
- 30 AMRAAM missiles produced by RTX subsidiary Raytheon, valued at $102.5 million. AMRAAMs primarily function as air-to-air missiles but can also be launched from ground platforms; demand for these missiles has surged amid ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East. The notification does not specify delivery timelines for these weapons.
“The United States is committed to Israel’s security, and assisting Israel in developing and maintaining a robust self-defense capability is essential to U.S. national interests. This proposed sale aligns with those objectives,” the DSCA stated regarding each transaction.
