Trump permits delivery of 900 kg bombs to Israel

In one of his first steps since returning to the White House, US President Donald Trump decided to launch 1,800 900-kilogram (2,000-pound) MK-84 bombs for delivery to Israel, whose supplies had been halted by former President Joe Biden.

Dean. Gen. (res.) Israel Shafir, a former squadron commander and commander of the Israeli Aviation School, explains that the MK-84 bombs, due to their heavy weight, penetrate deeper than the MK-83 bombs, which are half the weight, and the MK-82 bombs, which are 25% heavier. Just by its weight.

“The bomb penetrates deeper because the mass is multiplied by the square of the velocity, and the velocity is the same, so mass is important,” he explains.

According to him, the ability to penetrate deeper depends on several components, the most prominent of which is the valve. “It is possible that the bomb will explode on impact, or there will be a delay of several milliseconds before the explosion. This is the main weapon of the Air Force. This is a widely used bomb, and when it is a bomb that weighs a ton, the accuracy of hitting an area is up to ten meters.”

He adds that although the bomb is unguided, as long as the planes carrying it are in a position to see the target, they can also hit the target accurately with a regular bomb. “A GPS-equipped kit can be mounted on the MK-84 to guide it. In this way, it can also be dropped in all weather conditions or in cloudy conditions that make it impossible to see the target. There is also the option of laser guidance, which is the most advanced.”

He added that the United States has provided Israel with more than 10,000 bombs of this type since the outbreak of the Iron Sword War. A study by the Watson Institute at the University of Washington found that in the first year of the war alone, Israel was supplied with 14,100 MK-84 bombs. During this period, the United States also supplied Israel with, among other things, 57,000 155 mm shells, 20,000 M4A1 rifles, and 13,981 anti-tank missiles.

The price of each MK-84 bomb is estimated at between $10,000 and $25,000, depending on various factors, such as the number of units and supplies. Typically, the price of a bomb is around $16,000 per unit.

Published by Globes, Israel Business News – en.globes.co.il – on January 26, 2025.

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