The U.S. is sending warships to deter Israel’s adversaries from joining the fight. Even without U.S. naval vessels standing by, Israel has one of the world’s most sophisticated militaries, thanks in part to billions of dollars in U.S. weapons.
The U.S. is committed to maintaining Israel’s military edge over its neighbors and regularly approves multibillion-dollar sales of arms to Israel, including some of its most advanced weapons.Israel was the first foreign state to fly the advanced F-35 Joint Strike Fighter and has taken delivery of at least 36. Israel makes its own add-ons, including helmets, wings and cockpit software, according to the Congressional Research Service.
The U.S. military has moved to the Eastern Mediterranean the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and accompanying ships carrying guided missiles, jet fighters, roughly 5,000 servicemen and women and an array of other military capabilities.The USS Gerald R. Ford, commissioned in 2017, was the first new aircraft carrier designed in more than 40 years. Among other innovations, its electromagnetic plane-catapults replace earlier, steam-powered versions.