In July 2009, the administration approved a contract for Boeing to
produce and supply more than 100 JDAMs to Israel, Middle East Newsline reported. The sources said the JDAM
shipment was delayed by administrative procedures as well as a crisis
between Israel and the United States regarding Jewish construction in
Jerusalem.
The Israel Air Force has used JDAM to convert general purpose bombs into
precision munitions. JDAM was first deployed by Israeli F-16 multi-role
fighters during the war against Hizbullah in 2006.
The administration has also been delaying the shipment of other
offensive systems to Israel. This included the delivery of the GBU-39 Small
Diameter Bomb, approved by President George W. Bush in 2008.
The sources said the Obama administration has approved the first
delivery of GBU-39 to Israel. They said the bombs, meant for deployment on
Israel's fleet of F-15 fighter-jets were expected to arrive in the Jewish
state by 2011.
Since he began office in January 2009, Obama has refused to approve
major Israeli weapons requests. The sources cited Israeli requests for the
AH-64D Apache attack helicopter, the new F-15 stealth fighter-jet,
bunker-busters, air refueling systems and advanced reconnaissance equipment.
In May 2010, however, the Defense Department approved a $20 million
contract for the upgrading of an Israeli armored personnel carrier deployed
in the war against Hamas in January 2009. Under the contract, U.S. military
aid could be used to enhance the engine of Israel's Achzarit heavy APC,
based on the Soviet-origin T-55 main battle tank.
ShareThis
