The State Department has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Israel, involving munitions guidance kits, support equipment, and related materials valued at approximately $510 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency has submitted the required certification to notify Congress of the proposed deal.
The Government of Israel has requested the purchase of 3,845 KMU-558B/B Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits for the BLU-109 bomb body and 3,280 KMU-572F/B JDAM guidance kits for the MK 82 bomb body. The proposed sale also includes non-MDE (Major Defense Equipment) items such as U.S. government and contractor-provided engineering, logistics, and technical support services, along with other related elements of program and logistics support. The total estimated cost of the package is $510 million.
The principal contractor for the proposed sale will be The Boeing Company, based in St. Charles, Missouri. A portion of the JDAM guidance kits may be sourced from existing U.S. government stock. Currently, there is no known offset agreement associated with this potential sale. Any such agreement, if pursued, will be negotiated directly between the Government of Israel and the contractor.
INCREASING SCRUTINY AND DEBATE
While support for U.S. arms sales to Israel remains strong, a growing debate in Congress is reshaping the conversation around the terms and oversight of such deals.
Some lawmakers—particularly within the Democratic Party—have raised concerns about the humanitarian impact of these weapons on civilians in Gaza. These concerns have fueled calls for tighter oversight and potential restrictions on arms transfers, especially when they involve munitions likely to be used in densely populated urban areas.
In recent months, several senators have introduced resolutions to block or condition arms sales, citing Israel’s conduct during the fighting in Gaza and possible violations of international law. Notably, in November 2024, the Senate rejected three such resolutions, but a significant number of Democrats voted in support—highlighting the deepening divide over U.S. military assistance to Israel.
