The U.S. military has recently approved the sale of billions of dollars worth of missiles, bombs, and other weaponry to Israel amid the ongoing campaign in Gaza. Additionally, the Department of Defense is in the process of constructing aircraft facilities in Israel to support American-made refueling tanker planes, as indicated by newly released public contracting documents examined by The Intercept.
The project involves the construction of new facilities and upgrades to existing structures at an Israeli military base in southern Israel, as outlined in documents from the Army Corps of Engineers.
The construction is part of a nearly $1 billion contract awarded to Boeing in 2022 to supply Israel with four KC-46A Pegasus tanker aircraft by the end of 2026. This acquisition was viewed as a strategic move by Israel to enhance its capability to target Iran’s nuclear facilities.
The KC-46A aircraft, designed to replace aging models in the U.S. Air Force, has faced various challenges, including issues with its Remote Vision System and substantial financial losses exceeding $7 billion.
Israel’s purchase of the KC-46A aircraft, costing $927 million, will replace the current Boeing 707 passenger planes used by the Israeli Air Force for midair refueling.
Recently, the Biden administration approved multiple major arms sales to Israel, totaling over $20 billion, which includes F-15 fighter aircraft, tank ammunition, tactical vehicles, air-to-air missiles, and mortar rounds.
Israeli attacks on the Gaza Strip since last October have led to a significant humanitarian crisis, resulting in numerous casualties and utilizing U.S. munitions in the conflict.
The construction project for the KC-46A aircraft involves the creation and adaptation of aviation and maintenance infrastructure, including the construction of new structures and warehouses.
The Defense Department has previously undertaken construction projects in Israel, such as the establishment of a secret U.S. base near Gaza known as “Site 512.”
A recent investigation by The Intercept revealed the existence of over 60 U.S. bases or shared facilities in the Middle East, with some of these sites experiencing attacks and casualties in recent years.
The Defense Department plans to award contracts for the KC-46A construction project in February 2025, with no response provided to inquiries from The Intercept at the time of publication.
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