US sells Israel bombs in $1.8bn arms deal

US Defence Department approved a deal to supply Israel with $1.8 billion worth of precision guided munitions and bombs, Israeli newspaper Haaretz reported yesterday.

According to the paper, the Pentagon said that the deal, which was announced yesterday, includes 14,500 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM), an arms system attached to bombs that enables precision targeting with GPS intended for fighter jets.

In addition, Haaretz said, the deal includes 8,000 bombs (of the types MK-82 and MK-83) suitable for JDAM. The air force will also receive 50 bunker busting bombs, effective up to six metres, as well as over 4,000 small bombs, weighing 110 kilogrammes each.

The Israeli air force will also receive 3,000 Hellfire missiles, which are fired from Apache helicopters.

“These munitions will enable Israel to maintain operational capability of its existing systems and will enhance Israel’s interoperability with the United States,” Haaretz reported a Pentagon statement as saying.