The Trump administration approved $6.7 billion in weapons for Israel and $9 billion in Patriot missiles for Saudi Arabia, strengthening US military ties in the Middle East. Together, the approvals amount to $15.7 billion in potential sales that reinforce Washington’s role as the primary security guarantor for both states at a moment of regional volatility. The decisions also revive long‑running debates in Congress and among human rights advocates over how far US support should extend while conflicts in the region continue.
The new approvals build on years of Foreign Military Sales that have made Israel and Saudi Arabia among the largest recipients of advanced American hardware. By greenlighting additional Apache attack helicopters for Israel and Patriot PAC‑3 interceptors for Saudi Arabia, the administration is signaling that it intends to prioritize deterrence and missile defense even as it faces scrutiny over civilian casualties and the broader conduct of war. How lawmakers respond in the coming weeks will help determine whether these packages move from notification to signed contracts.
Inside the $6.7 billion package for Israel
The centerpiece of the Israeli tranche is a fleet of new AH‑64E Apache helicopters, part of a broader package that US officials value at $6.7 billion and that is intended to modernize Israel’s attack aviation and ground mobility. Notifications filed with the Defense Security Cooperation Agency describe a proposed $6.7 billion sale that includes 30 AH‑64E aircraft, associated munitions, and support equipment. The Israeli military has long relied on Apache gunships for close air support and precision strikes, and the E‑model represents the most advanced variant, with upgraded sensors, communications, and survivability features designed to integrate with US and allied forces.
In a separate but related filing, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency detailed a possible Israel AH‑64E Foreign Military Sale that lists advanced avionics, 36 Common Infrared Countermeasure Systems, and training and logistics support for the Gov of Israel. The State Department’s determination, recorded from WASHINGTON, frames the helicopters as a way to help Israel maintain a qualitative military edge, a long‑standing US policy objective. A broader roster of major arms sales notifications underscores how central Israel has become to the US Foreign Military Sale system, with repeated approvals for precision munitions, missile defense components, and armored vehicles.
Patriot missiles and the $9 billion bet on Saudi air defense
Parallel to the Israeli package, the administration has endorsed a sweeping upgrade of Saudi Arabia’s air and missile defenses built around the Patriot system. The US State Department has approved the possible sale of Patriot missiles with an Estimated cost of $9B, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which notes that much of the work would be performed in the state of Texas. A separate notification describes the package as a $9 billion Foreign Military Sal that would provide Saudi Arabia with PAC‑3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors, launchers, and associated radar and command systems, all under the umbrella of the US Foreign Military Sale framework.
Reporting on the decision highlights that The US has approved what one account calls “hit to kill” Patriot PAC‑3 interceptors for Saudi Arabia, a move that fits into a wider defense framework in the Gulf. Another analysis notes that the decision underscores Washington’s intent to strengthen Gulf air and missile defense capacity amid persistent regional missile and drone threats. A separate account of how Saudi Arabia Cleared For a $9B Lockheed PAC Missile Purchase describes a framework agreement covering seven years, underscoring the long‑term nature of the partnership.
Congressional oversight, $15.7 billion in potential sales, and the FMS pipeline
The combined value of the Israeli and Saudi packages illustrates the scale of US security commitments in the region. The Pentagon informed Congress that the combined arms sales total $15.7 billion, with $6.7 billion for Israel and $9 billion for Saudi Arabia. Congressional leaders are notified in advance and may place informal holds on such arms deals. A related briefing notes that traditionally, administrations have used this process to manage political blowback while still moving major arms transfers forward.
These deals also sit within a much larger Foreign Military Sales pipeline that has grown steadily over successive administrations. One analysis of the Taiwan portfolio notes that its figures represent both delivered and undelivered Foreign Military Sales (FMS) cases, underscoring how long it can take for approved packages to translate into hardware on the ground. The sales include additional major defense equipment that may expand over time to meet partner requirements.
Regional stakes, political backlash, and what comes next
The approvals arrive amid intense scrutiny of both partners’ conduct in war. The Trump administration’s own notification to Congress acknowledges that The Trump administration has approved major new arms sales to Israel and Saudi even as fighting has left tens of thousands dead, a context that critics argue should trigger stricter conditions on use. Coverage from AFP notes that the State Dept okays a $3.8 billion sale of 30 Apache attack helicopters for Israel and that the decision comes after a previous pause in some Saudi munitions transfers during two years of war. US officials stated that the Patriot package will enhance Saudi Arabia’s air defense capabilities.