Trump’s $2.8 Billion Israel Arms Deal: 40,000 Heavy Bombs, Warheads And Penetrators

The Trump administration has moved forward with a proposed $2.8 billion arms deal to supply Israel with 40,000 2,000-pound-class munitions amid continuing multi-front military operations across West Asia. Informally presented to congressional leaders on Tuesday, the package, first reported by The Washington Post, includes MK 84 bombs, BLU 117 warheads and I-2000 penetrators, financed through the US Foreign Military Financing programme.

The deal includes 20,000 MK 84 general-purpose bombs, 20,000 BLU 117 thermally protected warheads and 20,000 I-2000 penetrator warheads.

The MK 84, known as “The Hammer”, contains about 945 pounds of Tritonal explosives. Its heavy steel casing produces extreme blast pressure, thermal effects and fragmentation. The bomb can create craters more than 50 feet wide and 36 feet deep, while its fragmentation can spread lethal shrapnel over several thousand feet. MK 84 bombs can also be fitted with JDAM GPS guidance kits for precision targeting.

The BLU 117 has similar weight, dimensions and explosive yield but features a heat-resistant coating developed to prevent premature detonation, or cook-off, during fires and high-temperature conditions. Its inclusion provides greater flexibility for long-term storage, maritime operations and hardened airbase logistics.

The I-2000 penetrator is designed for hardened underground targets. Its dense steel casing, reinforced nose and delayed-action fuse allow it to penetrate concrete, earth and rock before detonating inside command bunkers, weapons tunnels and other fortified structures.

The transaction uses Foreign Military Financing grants, under which US government funds support foreign military purchases while money flows to American defence manufacturers. Israel is the largest cumulative recipient of US foreign assistance since World War II. Under the 2019 to 2028 MOU, Washington provides $3.8 billion annually, including $3.3 billion in FMF and $500 million for joint missile defence systems such as Iron Dome, David’s Sling and Arrow.

The move marks a sharp shift from the Biden administration, which temporarily halted a 2024 shipment of 1,800 MK 84 and 1,700 MK 82 bombs over concerns about civilian harm in densely populated areas. Trump lifted that hold after returning to office in January 2025. His administration later approved a $3 billion package containing more than 35,500 heavy bombs and a separate $6.67 billion defence package in January 2026.

The proposed 40,000-bomb transfer comes as US defence planners face stockpile pressures following more than $22 billion in West Asia military expenditures between February and June 2026. Analysts have raised concerns over production capacity and the ability to replenish US inventories while meeting foreign commitments.

The physical delivery of the bombs would take place over several years. The proposal must also undergo Congressional review under the Arms Export Control Act. Supporters say restricting heavy munitions could weaken Israel’s military leverage, while opponents argue the package could increase civilian harm and undermine de-escalation efforts. Lawmakers opposing the deal have indicated they may introduce Joint Resolutions of Disapproval, although overriding a presidential veto would require veto-proof majorities in both chambers.

With Washington knowing exactly what these weapons are capable of, one question remains: does the US also know how Israel will use them?