Once again, "Israel" is fervently arming and militarizing its arsenal with its latest purchase of four multi-mission KC-46 refueling tankers from Boeing, valued at $927.5 million. In an article by the Jerusalem Post, the Israeli newspaper describes the deal as "needed for any future action against Iran" against the backdrop of a nuclear deal coming through soon. 

The planes will begin arriving in 2025 and are set to replace "Israel's" old set of planes, the Re'em Boeing 707 tankers, that have been in use for over 50 years. 

Not only does the deal entail the planes themselves, but also tanker services support, maintenance and repairs, logistics and spares.

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The base model of the planes is the veteran Boeing 767 widebody airliner, and they will be built in the headquarters in Seattle.

“This contract further strengthens the US-Israel alliance and continues the decades-long relationship between Boeing and the Israeli Air Force,” said the president of Boeing in "Israel," Ido Nehushtan. Nehushtan is also a past commander for the Israeli aviation forces. 

In March 2020, the US Government approved selling eight KC-46 tankers. In February 2021, "Israel" signed a Letter of Offer and Acceptance for two aircraft, adding two more in December later on. 

“The refueling aircraft that are being purchased, along with the procurement of an F-35 squadron, helicopters, submarines and advanced munitions and will enable the IDF to meet its security challenges both near and far. This is yet another testament to the powerful alliance and strategic ties between the defense establishments and governments of Israel and the United States,” said the Israeli Security Minister Benny Gantz.

Aggression against Tehran

The Israelis perceive the tankers as a necessity to aggress against Iran, which is on the verge of signing a new version of the nuclear deal with the United States. "Israel" dreads the deal to be struck, thus ramping up its military arsenal. 

Chief of the Israeli Security Forces, Aviv Kochavi, said that the rekindling of the 2015 nuclear deal is a dangerous move, suggesting that Iran must be bombed, 'if necessary', to put its nuclear program to a halt.

Re'em planes, which were once civilian airliners, became refuelers and transport aircraft for the aviation forces. The number of planes in the fleet is undisclosed.

The latest KC-46 tankers have a flight range of 11,830 km, and can deliver up to 5,500 liters of fuel per minute through its 17-meter-long fly-by-wire boom. The tanker could also attach external fuel pods on wings to refuel three jets at the same time, all within 3-4 minutes.

The plane, furthermore, features Infrared countermeasures, Radio Frequency warnings, threat avoidance systems, and NVIS (Night Vision Imaging System) lighting which gives the vehicle the ability to land in total darkness. 

Read more: US, West Asia allies building anti-Iran UAV network: Reports

Mossad chief to meet US officials on Iranian nuclear deal in September

The head of "Israel's" Mossad spy agency, David Barnea, will visit the United States in early September for talks on the possible revival of the Iran nuclear deal.

The announced visit is the latest in the Israeli occupation's attempts to sway Western powers from an agreement to return to the landmark 2015 deal with Tehran.

Mossad chief David Barnea will "be visiting Washington in a week to participate in closed door meetings in Congress on the Iran deal," a senior Israeli official told AFP on condition of anonymity, without providing further details.

According to the Times of Israel, "Barnea will be the third senior Israeli official to visit Washington in recent days to discuss the Iran deal," after Security Minister Benny Gantz and National Security Advisor Eyal Hulata.

Last week, Barnea told reporters that the Iranian nuclear deal was “very bad for Israel” and “based on lies."

Following the remarks, Israeli media reported that Lapid's office was surprised by Barnea's criticism of US President Joe Biden's administration and demanded clarification.

According to the Israeli news website Walla, Barnea is the side pushing for the most extreme line on the Iranian nuclear deal within the Israeli occupation government.