Strategic Bombers

[Berger]

Any reason Israel doesn't have any long range stragetic bombers like the B-1 lancer or b-52? Is it because the US won't sell any to them? Israel will do the long range bombing anyway with f-15/f-16 but it limits the payload that can be dropped, for example Israel may have to resort to nukes if it attacks Iran because conventional bombs don't pack enough punch, making Israel vulnerable politically. But if it had B-1, it could just use a lot of conventional bombs on whatever target. Seems to me like a good idea.

[BrittleSteel]

I believe because the US wont sell them. I recall Israel once expressed interest in the A-10 warthog but it was very breif as the US made such purchases not an option.

I would just that to the US such sales would be too much of a shift of power in the region.

[Fuimus]

Such long-range strategic bombers are very expensive to maintain anyway. I've read that the U.S. will export the F-22 and/or F-35 and that Israel is planning to purchase a few. That will reemphasize their air superiority of the region.

[TankHunter]

Exactly what would Israel do with a SAC? From my meager understanding, all of their wars have been too short for strategic strikes to be of much use.

[Noiro]

Long range strategic strike capabilities are simply not in the Israeli military's overall mission of defending the country.