Israel’s war in Gaza has been lucrative for U.S. defense firms, with multiple weapons manufacturers securing billions in contracts from Israel since Hamas's October 7, 2023, attack. Boeing stands out, appearing in up to $26.7 billion in arms sales approved by the Department of Defense for Israel during the period, according to a Sludge analysis of Defense Security Cooperation Agency announcements.
Gaza’s death toll has surpassed 67,000, with Boeing’s bombs being used in Israel’s deadly strikes on schools and tent camps. Last week, Israel and Hamas agreed to the first phase of a U.S.-brokered ceasefire, including a halt to fighting and hostage releases, but Israel retains control of over half the territory, and influential Israeli pundits are predicting the war is likely to be resumed with support from President Trump.
Boeing’s approved Israel sales have far outpaced rivals like Lockheed Martin and RTX since the start of the Gaza war. While the Biden administration notified Congress in August 2024 of potential sales of up to 50 new F-15IA aircraft and upgrades worth up to $18.8 billion, Israel and Boeing later signed a contract for 25 jets valued at $5.2 billion, with deliveries beginning in 2031. The remaining approved amount sets a ceiling for possible future purchases of the fighter jet. In a $6.75 billion deal from February 2025, Boeing is set to earn the majority from sales to Israel of up to 2,166 GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs and as many as 17,000 JDAM guidance kits, with Tactical Systems Company LLC (formerly ATK), L3Harris, and McAlester Army Ammunition Plant sharing in the sales for bomb bodies, fuzes, and support. A separate $675 million emergency deal from February 2025 has Boeing supplying 5,000 JDAM kits for precision “smart” bombs, while Repkon USA, a subsidiary of the Turkish defense firm Repkon, provides 5,000 bomb bodies. Most recently, Boeing was the sole contractor named on a $510 million approval in June to supply Israel with 3,845 JDAM kits for bunker buster BLU-109 bombs and 3,280 for general-purpose MK 82 bombs.
The $26.7 billion represents a ceiling and the amount that Boeing will actually be paid for sales approved during this period will almost certainly be less. About $7.4 billion of Boeing’s approved sales involve other contractors sharing funds for bomb bodies and fuzes, and for each of the approvals the amount that is executed by Israel could come in lower, as it has so far for the F-15s. Smaller sales to Israel, below the $25 million congressional notification threshold for equipment and $100 million for other services, are not subject to the foreign military sales approval process and could further drive up Boeing’s defense revenues.
