US approves $647M weapons deal to Israel

The Pentagon told Congress Monday it has signed off on a potential $647 million weapons package to Israel.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the possible sale of 6,900 Boeing-made Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) kits, which would total $647 million.

The JDAM kits convert unguided bombs into precision “smart” weapons.

The DSCA, which oversees foreign military sales, said the proposed weapons purchase “will enable Israel to maintain operational capability of its existing systems.”

“Israel, which already has these munitions in its inventory, will have no difficulty absorbing these additional munitions into its armed forces,” the agency said.

In addition to Boeing, Lockheed Martin, General Dynamics and Raytheon are also contractors on the JDAM purchase.

The United States, a close ally of Israel, has helped fund the country’s Iron Dome missile defense batteries that played a key role in the recent Israel-Gaza conflict.

Once notified, Congress could reject the sale, but that is highly unlikely to occur in this case.

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