US supplying 'Israel' with advanced refueling planes for fighter jets
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The United States is providing "Israel" with advanced refueling airplanes to help its fighter jets stay in the air for a longer time for long-range operations.
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A US Air Force KC-46A Pegasus jet takes off in view of a line of Boeing 777X jets parked nose to tail on an unused runway at Paine Field, April 23, 2021, in Everett, Washington (AP)
The US Department of Defense is moving forward with plans to expand military infrastructure in occupied Palestine aimed at accommodating US-made refueling tanker aircraft, The Intercept reported Friday, citing documents it had obtained.
This development follows the US military's recent sale of billions of dollars worth of missiles, bombs, and other weapons to the Israeli occupation as the genocide in Gaza protracts.
According to newly released public contracting documents obtained by The Intercept, the Pentagon will be constructing and upgrading facilities at an Israeli military base in the southern region of occupied Palestine.
The project, outlined by the Army Corps of Engineers, involves the construction of new hangars, warehouses, and storage buildings. The expansion is part of a nearly $1 billion contract awarded to Boeing in 2022, which includes the delivery of four KC-46A Pegasus refueling tankers by 2026.
These aircraft will bolster the Israeli occupation's midair refueling capabilities, allowing for extended operations by its fighter jets, which could play a critical role in potential strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in the case of further regional instability.
The KC-46A, which is intended to replace the Israeli occupation's outdated Boeing 707 refueling planes, has encountered several technical challenges and has generated more than $7 billion in losses due to flaws in its design, particularly with its Remote Vision System.
Despite these issues, the aircraft is central to the Israeli occupation's long-term military strategy, especially in light of growing tensions.
In addition to the KC-46A purchase, the Biden administration recently approved five major arms deals to the Israeli occupation, encompassing 50 F-15 fighter jets, ammunition, air-to-air missiles, and other military equipment totaling over $20 billion.
Although these are technically "sales", much of the cost is covered by US military aid to the Israeli occupation.
This construction effort is not the Pentagon's first major project in "Israel". A previous report by The Intercept revealed a multimillion-dollar US contract for troop facilities at "Site 512", a secret radar base in the Negev desert in southern occupied Palestine.
This base is one of over 60 US military installations spread across the region, many of which have faced attacks in recent years, resulting in significant casualties.
Endless aid
From fighter jets to heavy-duty tank trailers and other equipment, US aid to "Israel" seems to have no limit.
Yesterday, Reuters reported that the United States approved a $165 million weapons sale to "Israel", specifically for heavy-duty tank trailers, according to a statement by the State Department.
The sale includes spare parts, repair kits, toolsets, and technical and logistical support. These systems, however, are not scheduled for delivery until 2027.
Earlier this year, the US unveiled a substantial $20 billion weapons package for the Israeli occupation entity, which includes F-15 fighter jets. Similar to the tank trailers, these systems will also take several years to arrive.
This comes despite mounting calls from lawmakers and the public for the Biden administration to end or reduce military aid to its biggest ally "Israel" due to the tens of thousands of Palestinians killed in the ongoing war on the Gaza Strip.
Read more: Iran's 3rd Khordad air defense system: A proven threat to US aircraft
The Washington Post reported back in June citing a senior administration official, that the US has supplied "Israel" with over $6.5 billion in military supplies dubbed as aid since the beginning of the war on Gaza last October, including nearly $3 billion approved in May.
These were the figures provided as of June 27.
With Iran being one of "Israel's" targets in sight, it is worth noting that the Islamic Republic is among six countries that have achieved long-range surface-to-air missile production capabilities, accoding to the Commander of Air Defense Force in northwestern Iran, Brigadier General Abbas Azimi.
Azimi pointed to the fast-paced proliferation of Iran's homegrown air defense capabilities, which did not exist prior to the Islamic Revolution in 1979. The Brigadier General explained that procuring Iran's air defense equipment and systems depended solely on imports before the Islamic Revolution.
In stark contrast, the country's scientists and specialists now develop and produce radars that can operate in a 300-km radius, Azimi confirmed.
The Iranian commander also noted that the country's air defense force is always on full-time alert regardless of the conditions of war or peace.
Being surrounded by Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Iraq, and the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic has made the monitoring of the areas by the northwestern force of utmost importance, due to the presence of extra-regional air bases in these countries,
Meanwhile, Commander of the Iranian Army’s Air Defense Force Brigadier General Alireza Sabahi-Fard affirmed that the powerful air defense force of the Iranian army is ready to repel and stand against any possible aggression on the country.
