Congress: 118 · Status: active · Israel/Palestine classification: pro-Israel
Data (JSON) — machine-readable record of this bill (identifiers, sponsor, classification, actions, and the member-by-member vote breakdown).
Official record on Congress.gov — full text, actions, and cosponsor history for S 510.
Sponsor: Cotton, Tom (R-Arkansas)
Expediting Israeli Aerial Refueling Act of 2023 This bill requires the Department of Defense (DOD), particularly the Department of the Air Force, to provide certain training and support to the air force of Israel. Specifically, the bill requires the U.S. Air Force to train members of the air force of Israel on (1) the operation of the KC-46 aircraft, and (2) maintenance and sustainment requirements of the KC-46 aircraft. Before completing the training required by this bill, DOD must authorize members of the air force of Israel who are associated with the operation of KC-46 aircraft to participate in the U.S. Air Force Military Personnel Exchange Program. DOD must make the program available to such members of the air force of Israel and ensure that they may participate immediately after completing training. DOD must rotationally deploy one or more KC-46 aircraft to Israel until the earlier of five years after the enactment of this bill or the date on which a KC-46 aircraft procured by the military forces of Israel is commissioned into such military forces and achieves full combat capability.
This bill requires the U.S. Air Force to train Israeli Air Force personnel on operating and maintaining the KC-46 aerial refueling aircraft. It also mandates that the U.S. deploy KC-46 aircraft to Israel on a rotating basis for up to five years, or until Israel's own KC-46 becomes fully operational, whichever comes first. Israeli pilots would be eligible for the U.S. Air Force's Military Personnel Exchange Program after completing training.
Aerial refueling capacity directly extends the operational range of fighter jets and bombers. This legislation commits U.S. military resources and expertise to enhance Israeli air operations, locking in a specific military capability transfer at no cost to Israel. The five-year deployment timeline and training requirements represent a sustained institutional commitment.