Air Force challenged by limited budget, aging aircraft: Israeli media
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As the war spins into its 13th month, the Israeli Air Force faces significant challenges and inabilities to replenish its capabilities.
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An Israeli Apache helicopter fires a missile toward southern Lebanon as seen from northern occupied Palestine, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024 (AP)
Israeli media revealed that "Israel" was facing a tremendous challenge in its Air Force, rendered "in danger", and the availability of air-to-surface bombs.
According to Israeli newspaper Maariv, the Israeli Air Force is in danger and is challenged by an "aging" fleet of warplanes, which has been exhausted after thousands of flight hours throughout the war, surpassing all regular deployment timeframes. An Apache swarm is also "in very bad shape," according to Maariv.
The newspaper pointed out that the operational pattern followed by "Israel" during the war will force it to move forward with purchasing new swarms of aircraft, focusing on acquiring F-15 and F-35 models.
In recent months, the US administration has increased restrictions on aid provided to "Israel" and delayed the purchase of heavy air-to-ground bombs, as well as air-to-ground missiles for helicopters. It also prevented the delivery of used Apache helicopters to temporarily assist the Air Force defense system.
Maariv also noted that the restrictions do not represent a solution nor an end. The world is currently in an arms race, with the ongoing crisis in Ukraine, tensions between Beijing and Taiwan, and all of Europe seeking to acquire weapons.
In this context, a spokesperson for one of the largest arms companies told Maariv, "What is happening now is madness. This world is not the same as it was two or three years ago; the entire world is now buying various weapons."
"Today, we are facing a reality that proves arms companies cannot keep up with the orders, and the supply queue is getting longer and longer," he added.
Limited budget
A security source estimates that the Israeli Air Force will expedite a process to rapidly equip and expand its air capabilities, which will include about 100 F-35s, 100 F-15s, and fifty additional F-16 jets.
If the Israeli military decides to purchase this much aircraft, it will also be obligated to purchase at least six additional heavy transport helicopters, in addition to 12 helicopters already requested to replace the aging fleet of military helicopters currently in service.
In light of the significant shortage in the air force, an Israeli security source stated that the biggest issue is not just the shortage itself, but that the Israeli budget is limited, and "one would need to be a magician to meet the needs."
The second issue is "the production line schedules, which are filled with a list of buyers."
Yesterday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the second reason for the decision to agree on a ceasefire with Lebanon was "the need to replenish weapons and equipment stockpiles."
Is Trump 'Israel's' savior?
The newspaper also revealed that the occupation attempted to mitigate the shortage by using several Black Hawk helicopters, typically used for troop transport and evacuating the wounded, and retrofitting them with weapon systems such as air-to-ground missiles and cannons, among others. These helicopters will be used to reduce the need for Apache helicopters.
Maariv clarified that weapon shipments are currently stuck in storage at Boeing warehouses in the United States due to President Joe Biden’s decision to halt certain arms shipments, including the Hellfire missile manufactured by Lockheed Martin. These weapons were initially unavailable at the start of the war on Gaza, but the US later sent arms to "Israel" via an air bridge.
As the fighting continued, a noticeable decrease in stockpiles was recorded, prompting "Israel" to rely on President-elect Donald Trump to release US weapon shipments.
Senate Democrats' bid to halt US weapon sales to 'Israel' falls short
Last week, a group of Democratic senators failed in their attempt to block shipments of US weapons to "Israel" after several procedural motions were defeated in the Senate, shortly after the United States vetoed a UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire in Gaza.
The effort, spearheaded by Senator Bernie Sanders, who caucuses with President Joe Biden's Democratic Party, aimed to challenge "Israel's" ongoing war on Gaza.
Sanders accused the United States of being complicit in human rights atrocities, warning that continued support for "Israel" could undermine US credibility on other global issues.
"Nobody is going to take anything you say with a grain of seriousness," said the 83-year-old, who recently won re-election to another six-year term.
"They will say to you, 'You're concerned about China, you're concerned about Russia, you're concerned about Iran. Well, why are you funding the starvation of children in Gaza right now?'"
The Biden administration has maintained strong support for "Israel" and fueled the genocide in Gaza, calling for restraint while continuing military aid. While US officials warned "Israel" that aid could be at risk if Gaza's humanitarian conditions did not improve, no assistance was withheld.
