WarSclerotic

The U.S. State Department approved the sale of $1.87 billion in munitions and precision guidance kits to Israel this week to improve the capability of existing systems and make it easier for U.S. and Israeli military forces to work together.

The sale represents a significant boost to the Israeli Air Force’s airstrike capabilities and includes 3,000 Hellfire missiles for the Israel Air Force’s Apache helicopters, as well as hundreds of GPS and laser-guided bombs and missiles.

The transfer of Hellfire missiles was suspended in the summer of 2014, amid Operation Protective Edge.

If the deal is approved by Congress, Israel will also receive other tactical weapons, including 50 BLU-113 Super Penetrator and 700 BLU-109 Penetrator bunker buster missiles.

The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Israel had requested 14,500 KMU-556C/B Joint Direct Attack Munitions tail kits built by Boeing to convert “dumb bombs” and make them precision-guided weapons, as well as assorted bombs, missiles and other munitions.

In a statement, the agency said that “The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability.”

The Pentagon agency, which implements and oversees foreign military sales, notified lawmakers on Tuesday of the proposed deal. It said the main contractors would include Boeing Co., Lockheed Martin Corp., General Dynamics Corp., and Raytheon Co.

Lawmakers have 15 days to block the potential sale, but such action is rare since deals are carefully vetted before they are formally presented to Congress.