The U.S. military has been actively supplying Israel with billions of dollars worth of weapons, including missiles and bombs, amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza. In addition to this, the Department of Defense has recently revealed plans to construct aircraft facilities in Israel to accommodate American-made refueling tanker planes. This development comes as part of a nearly $1 billion contract awarded to Boeing in 2022, which involves providing Israel with four KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft by the end of 2026.
The KC-46A tanker aircraft is the latest model being produced for the U.S. Air Force, intended to replace its older models. However, the new aircraft has faced numerous issues, including problems with its Remote Vision System, which allows the boom operator to see the boom through a video feed. Moreover, the KC-46A has become a financial burden, accumulating losses of over $7 billion.
For Israel, the purchase of the KC-46A aircraft for $927 million will serve as a replacement for their outdated Boeing 707 passenger planes, which are currently used for midair refueling of fighter aircraft. This acquisition is seen as a clear indication of Israel’s determination to enhance its capability to strike Iran’s nuclear facilities.
In addition to the aircraft purchase, the Biden administration recently approved five major arms sales to Israel, amounting to over $20 billion. These sales include F-15 fighter aircraft, tank ammunition, tactical vehicles, air-to-air missiles, and mortar rounds. Although technically considered “sales,” the majority of the cost is covered by the United States, as Israel utilizes the military aid approved by Congress to purchase U.S.-made weapons.
It is important to note that Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since October of the previous year have resulted in a humanitarian crisis, with more than 40,000 Palestinians killed and close to 94,000 wounded, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. U.S. munitions have been utilized by Israel in these attacks.
Regarding the construction project for the KC-46A aircraft, documents reveal plans to establish and adapt aviation and maintenance infrastructure. This includes the construction of new concrete and steel structures, with the possibility of additional buildings and warehouses. This is not the first construction project undertaken by the Pentagon in Israel. Last year, it was revealed that the Defense Department had awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to build U.S. troop facilities for a secret base in Israel’s Negev desert. This base, known as “Site 512,” is a radar facility that monitors the skies for missile attacks on Israel.
The Intercept’s recent investigation uncovered that Site 512 is just one of more than 60 U.S. bases, garrisons, or shared foreign facilities in the Middle East. These sites span across 13 countries and range from small combat outposts to large air bases. Unfortunately, at least 14 of these bases have been targeted in recent years, resulting in casualties among U.S. troops and contractors.
The Defense Department plans to award contracts for the KC-46A construction project in February 2025. Despite requests for comment, the Pentagon and State Department did not provide any responses prior to publication.
