Israel Aims for Arms Independence with Local JDAM Production

Israel is working to produce its own JDAM (Joint Direct Attack Munition) bombs on a large scale within two years. Following recommendations from a government commission and spurred by a partial arms freeze from the Biden administration in May 2024, the Defense Ministry initiated a plan to increase domestic weapons production in late 2024. Initially focused on converting unguided bombs to precision-guided munitions, the effort expanded to include JDAMs and other smart bombs.

The Defense Ministry signed agreements with Elbit Systems in January 2025, committing approximately NIS 1 billion to strengthen the Israel Defense Forces' self-sufficiency. This initiative was partly funded by the sale of Arrow 3 interceptors to Germany, which provided funds to both increase interceptor production and accelerate domestic munitions development.

Amir Baram, director-general of the Defense Ministry, emphasized the importance of both strengthening Israel's defense industrial base and maintaining strong ties with allies. The country received over 120,000 tons of military equipment via 1,000 aircraft and 150 ships, largely from the US, in November.