Pentagon Said No to Israel, Now It Pays Dearly
Backlash for the Pentagon: they said no to Israel – and now they will pay a fortune. It is rare for an attack on an American aircraft in Iran to occur without the use of…
Assessment
The Pentagon's refusal to sell Israel the Lantern targeting system led Israel to develop its own Lightning system, which is now reportedly used in attacks on American aircraft in Iran. The US is now paying Northrop Grumman $1.84 billion for Lightning fighters and upgrades, suggesting a costly reversal of fortune. The key question is whether this contract reflects a belated US effort to acquire the very technology it once denied Israel.