And Israel upgraded most of those platforms and gave us the upgrades.
The most prominent example involves the F-35. Israel is the only foreign operator "authorized" to modify the F-35 (designated the F-35I "Adir"). They integrate proprietary, Israeli-developed electronic warfare (EW) systems, customized weapons, and external jamming pods.
Regarding Boeing platforms, such as the KC-46 refueling tankers or F-15s, Israel customizes the avionics and weapons payloads to fit its own specific doctrine. Tax dollars to the US military co-finances and tests these technologies with Israel, such as the C-130 simulation centers and missile defense systems.
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The US taxpayer provides approximately $3.8 billion annually in baseline military and missile defense aid to Israel.
While this forms a significant portion of Israel’s defense budget, the US also provides billions in supplemental funding.
Specific details on this financial and technological partnership include:
<>Baseline Funding (Annual MOU)
<> The current 10-year Memorandum of Understanding (FY 2019–2028) commits $3.8 billion per year.
<>$3.3 billion for Foreign Military Financing (FMF)
<>plus $500M explicitly for Israeli missile defense programs (Iron Dome, David's Sling, and Arrow).
Missile Defense Systems: US tax dollars heavily finances Israel's multi-tiered aerial defense shield. Since 2011, the US taxpayer has provided over $1.7 billion dedicated strictly to the Iron Dome system, and also helped fund the higher-altitude Arrow systems and David's Sling.
Recent Supplemental Packages: the US has approved over $20 billion tax dollars in additional supplementary aid and arms packages since late 2023 to support war operations and replenish defense stockpiles.
Under a "unique arrangement," up to 25% of the tax dollars allocation to Israel is used by Israel on domestic procurement to support its own thriving profitable defense industry.
You can track annual US authorization acts and exact appropriations via the Congressional Research Service.