Israel set to mass‑produce JDAM bombs to curb US arms dependence

Israel announced a programme to manufacture JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) bombs domestically within the next two years, aiming to reduce reliance on American weapon supplies. The Defence Ministry has signed contracts with local firm Elbit Systems valued at roughly 1 billion shekels (about US$332 million) to develop production capacity for both guided and unguided munitions.

The initiative follows a partial U.S. freeze on certain arms shipments after the May 2024 Rafah operations and is part of a broader strategy to secure Israel’s operational autonomy amid regional tensions with Iran and Lebanon. Funding for the project has also been bolstered by the sale of the Arrow‑3 missile‑defence system to Germany, generating additional revenue for domestic weapons development.