Israel is necessarily worried about what the US policy in the Middle East will be. It plans on increasing its F-35 fleet from 50-75 and is purchasing some KC-46 refuelers though it will take years before those are ready.
The Israeli Military Is Preparing For The Worst On Iran
In mid-February, U.S. President Joe Biden and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke for the first time since Biden entered the Oval Office. The phone-call was long-anticipated amid concerns in Israel about what U.S. intentions are for Middle East policy. After four years in which the Trump administration was openly and deeply supportive of Israel’s actions, Israel’s leadership is concerned about Iranian threats and how the U.S. might approach a new Iran nuclear deal.
Israel’s Iran Worries: Nuclear Weapons and MoreIsrael expects to use its recent multi-year Momentum plan to harness its technology, F-35s, and air defense to overwhelm enemies in the next conflict. Israel recently also purchased two new KC-46 refuelers from the U.S., although these will take years to deliver. The country is seeking to bulk up its F-35 procurement from fifty planes to seventy-five and also buy more helicopters. It also announced this month it was beginning work on the Arrow-4 air defense system, part of its multi-layered air defense that already includes Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow. Israel has delivered two Iron Dome batters to the U.S. in the last year as the U.S. is also looking at the system for its short-range air defense needs. On February 23 Israel also announced a deal for its Trophy active protection system with Germany. In short, Israel has a plethora of military technology that prepares it for warfare against a complex opponent, like Iran and Iranian-backed proxies.
The larger picture is that Israel wants the U.S. administration engaged in the region and expects to build upon new peace deals with the UAE and Bahrain, as well as current peace partners Israel has in Jordan and Egypt. Iran tensions have a complex cycle to them. Hezbollah in Lebanon fired a surface-to-air missile at an Israeli drone on February 3. This type of incident is similar to incidents in 2020 when Hezbollah cut holes in a security fence and in the fall of 2019 when Israel attacked a Hezbollah drone team in Syria near the Golan Heights. These cyclical tensions could always escalate, but Israel hopes that its messaging, whether in contact with the Biden administration or through its recent air force drill, will send the message that is necessary to deter Iran.