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For months, the Biden administration waited to formally approve $20 billion in future American weapons sales to Israel, including F-15s and medium-range missiles. The official notification to Congress was finally announced last week — right before Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken traveled to Israel in a bid to nail down a cease-fire agreement with Hamas.

The White House has tried to contain domestic opposition to arms for Israel in Congress, while attempting to keep the war against Hamas from escalating into a wider regional conflict.

“We recognize Israel’s right to defend itself from terrorism and other security threats, consistent with international humanitarian law,” a State Department statement said. “We will continue to do what is necessary to ensure Israel can defend itself in the face of these threats.”

An Israeli F-15 in southern Israel last year.
Credit…Jack Guez/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images

The war in Gaza — and how it has divided the American public — has put a spotlight on the normally lengthy, technical process by which U.S. weapons producers sell arms to foreign governments.

Here is a look at the arms sales that the Biden administration notified Congress on Aug. 13 that it has approved.

Arms Sales Approved by the Biden Administration

F-15 Fighter Jets

Up to 50 new F-15 IA jets, and upgrade kits for the 25 F-15 I aircraft that Israel already has, are at the core of the $18.8 billion purchase that Congress was first informally notified about in January. The deal was initially delayed by the top Democrats on the House and Senate foreign affairs committees amid concerns about Israel’s tactics in Gaza, but they agreed in June to let it move forward.

The F-15s will help Israel “meet current and future enemy threats, strengthen its homeland defense and serve as a deterrent to regional threats,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in its announcement of the approval.

Tank Ammunition

Israel plans to buy 32,739 tank cartridges of 120-millimeter rounds from military contractors General Dynamics and Northrop Grumman for an estimated $774.1 million. The sale would also include various tank munitions, canisters and support services, with deliveries beginning in 2027.

The informal notification of the proposed sale was sent to Congress in May, according to reports in The Wall Street Journal and CNN. It was part of initial discussions between Congress and the State Department to also sell tactical vehicles and mortar rounds to Israel, in an arms package totaling $1 billion. The final notification for the vehicles and mortars was also sent to Congress on Aug. 13.

Tactical Vehicles

The sale of eight-ton cargo trucks is valued at $583 million. The trucks, which would be delivered starting in 2026, are used for freight transport, unit resupply and other tactical missions to support combat units.

The notification does not specify how many of the trucks Israel plans to buy from the manufacturer, the Oshkosh Corp., but says the total sale would include an earlier, $62.4 million order for the trucks, spare parts, software delivery and other support.

Mortar Rounds

Medium-Range Missiles

The U.S. has approved the sale of 30 medium-range, air-to-air missiles from the AIM-120 C-8 series. The missiles are considered “a key aerial combat capability used to defend against airborne threats, such as the missile and drone salvo launched at Israel on April 14,” according to a statement from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

Conclusion

The Biden administration has formally approved $20 billion in future American weapons sales to Israel, including F-15s and medium-range missiles. The sale of these weapons is part of the Biden administration’s efforts to support Israel’s security and defend against regional threats.

FAQs

Q: What is the total value of the weapons sales approved by the Biden administration?
A: The total value of the weapons sales is $20 billion.

Q: What types of weapons are included in the sales?
A: The sales include F-15 fighter jets, tank ammunition, tactical vehicles, mortar rounds, and medium-range missiles.

Q: When did the Biden administration formally notify Congress of the weapons sales?
A: The Biden administration formally notified Congress of the weapons sales on Aug. 13.