Israeli soldiers stationed near the Gaza Strip. (Credit: Illustration by AFP)
The Israeli Air Force is drafting a recommendation to boost domestic production of bombs, missiles, and other munitions to reduce its reliance on foreign suppliers, particularly the United States, according to a senior air force official cited by Haaretz on Monday.
The senior officer added that without U.S. weapons supplies, particularly to the air force, "Israel would have had a hard time sustaining its war for more than a few months," the newspaper reported.
If adopted, the recommendation would significantly increase the production capacity of Israel's defense industry, requiring the hiring of more workers, particularly in engineering and other technical fields.
The proposal is part of a broader Israeli effort to reduce dependency on external suppliers, especially as the Biden administration has faced delays in providing specialized munitions, according to the report.
Haaretz also reported that U.S. officials are concerned that Israel’s increased firepower could result in significant civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip. The delays in munitions delivery are also seen as an attempt to push the Israeli government towards a ceasefire agreement that would secure the release of hostages held by Hamas.
Implementing such changes would take several years and require additional funding amounting to tens of billions of shekels, given that most of the air force’s equipment in the conflict was purchased from American companies through U.S. military aid.