The Trump administration has approved a proposed $2.8 billion arms sale to Israel, underscoring the challenges faced by the Israeli military in replenishing its stockpiles of heavy munitions amid ongoing security concerns. The package includes tens of thousands of bombs, including one-ton bunker-busting warheads, similar to those produced by Israeli manufacturer Elbit Systems during the Gaza conflict.
Despite domestic production capabilities, Israeli officials acknowledge that local manufacturing cannot meet the military’s demand for these munitions, particularly during sustained operations. “Our domestic production rate doesn’t meet our needs,” a source familiar with the matter said, highlighting that the Israeli Air Force can expend as many as 1,200 air-to-ground munitions per day in wartime—far exceeding current production levels. Complications also arise in securing the necessary raw materials for mass production of these bombs.
The move by the U.S. is seen by some as politically motivated, with the Trump administration eager to demonstrate unwavering support for Israel by approving all requested munitions without restrictions. However, American arms manufacturers have expressed growing unease over the political fallout stemming from Israeli military actions in Gaza. A senior Israeli military procurement official noted that concerns about “collateral damage” linked to Israeli operations have become a topic of discussion even among U.S. defense contractors.
While the deal is subject to approvals from both the U.S. Congress and Israel’s ministerial procurement committee and is expected to take several years before fully materializing, there is currently no budget allocated by Israel to finance the purchase. Contrary to some American media reports suggesting U.S. taxpayers would cover the costs, funds under the existing aid agreement, which extends through 2029, are largely committed to prior major acquisitions, primarily for the Air Force.
If the deal proceeds, Israel would need to utilize its own defense budget, denominated in shekels, to fund the purchase. This aligns with recent trends: over the past three years, Israel has reportedly spent between $2 billion and $3 billion each year from its own resources on American weapons and ammunition, supplementing the U.S. aid it receives.
Budget constraints similarly affect other U.S.-approved procurements awaiting Israeli orders, including 12 Apache helicopters, six Sikorsky CH-53K helicopters, two aerial refueling tankers, and JDAM guidance kits for precision-guided bombs.
A military source emphasized the financial strain, noting, “We simply can’t afford an end to aid. Everyone also knows that could hurt American industry. Now they’re looking for ways to justify keeping it.” Discussions about future collaboration include possible joint air defense programs, potentially shifting the burden of funding more heavily onto Israel.
Israeli officials are awaiting clarity from the upcoming elections to determine who will negotiate future aid arrangements. The current leadership, according to sources, is constrained by previously made commitments from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and former President Donald Trump, which have complicated defense planning and introduced uncertainty across Israel’s defense establishment.