Jerusalem Post/Business & Innovation/All NewsAs Israeli Air Force receives new KC-46, US approves selling four refuelers to Qatar, giving Doha long-range strike power. Is it a threat to Israel or Iran?Follow us on GoogleTrump and the Emir of Qatar, 2025.(photo credit: REUTERS)ByUDI ETZIONAUGUST 24, 2026 13:46While the Israeli defense establishment maintains a strict embargo on defense exports to Qatar, the US administration has approved a major arms deal with the Gulf nation.The US State Department announced that Washington has cleared the sale of four Boeing KC-46 aerial refueling aircraft to Qatar in a deal valued at $4.5 billion. The total cost reflects a comprehensive package that includes spare parts, maintenance, and long-term training support.The approval represents a preliminary stage ahead of a formal contract, and no firm delivery schedule has been set. Given existing production backlogs and heavy global demand, Qatar is unlikely to receive the aircraft before 2030. The United States remains the primary operator of the KC-46, with roughly 105 in service and plans to procure 283 in total, while Japan operates six and has approval for nine more.Recent conflicts involving Iran have underscored the vital strategic role of aerial tankers, which extend the range and loiter time of fighter jets, transport planes, and intelligence platforms. In a sign of their operational importance, roughly 70 US tankers are currently deployed in the region, while the Israeli Air Force took delivery of its second KC-46 last week - part of a six-aircraft order placed by the Defense Ministry.The “Gideon” aircraft, a strategic aerial refueling aircraft of the Israeli Air Force. (credit: IDF SPOKESPERSON'S UNIT)To date, Qatar has lacked a dedicated tanker fleet. The acquisition will, for the first time, allow its air force, which operates F-15s, Typhoons, and Rafales, to conduct long-range strike missions far beyond its borders, marking a dramatic shift in its operational reach.Although Qatar faced Iranian attacks during the war, suggesting the procurement may serve as a deterrent against Tehran, the deal simultaneously hands Doha a long-range force-projection capability toward Israel that it previously did not possess.Follow us on Google