Department of State Has Approved Contracts Worth $15 Billion

Why It Matters

The approvals deepen U.S. security ties with two pivotal Middle‑East allies, shaping regional power balances and driving significant defense‑industry revenue. Domestic pushback underscores growing scrutiny of executive‑legislative coordination on foreign arms deals.

Key Takeaways

• $15B arms sale approved for Israel and Saudi Arabia
• Israel receives 30 Apache helicopters and 3,250 tactical vehicles
• Saudi Arabia purchases 730 Patriot missile rounds for $9B
• Congressional criticism highlights oversight concerns over the deals
• Sale reinforces US influence in Middle East defense market

Pulse Analysis

The latest State Department clearance reflects a broader U.S. strategy to sustain a robust military footprint in the Middle East. By supplying Israel with advanced Apache attack helicopters and a fleet of tactical vehicles, Washington bolsters Tel Aviv’s rapid‑response capabilities amid ongoing regional tensions. Meanwhile, the Patriot missile round package for Saudi Arabia upgrades Riyadh’s layered air‑defence architecture, addressing perceived gaps against sophisticated missile threats and reinforcing the kingdom’s role as a regional security partner.

From a geopolitical perspective, the dual‑track sale signals a calibrated effort to balance support between two often‑competing allies. Israel’s acquisition of high‑end rotary‑wing platforms enhances its deterrence posture against neighboring adversaries, while Saudi Arabia’s expanded missile inventory strengthens collective defense frameworks that include U.S. forces stationed in the Gulf. Both deals serve to lock in long‑term procurement pipelines for American defense contractors, ensuring a steady flow of revenue and sustaining the industrial base that underpins U.S. strategic advantage.

Domestically, the transactions have reignited debate over congressional oversight of foreign arms sales. Critics argue that the administration’s rapid announcement sidestepped established review mechanisms, raising concerns about transparency and accountability. This tension could prompt legislative reforms aimed at tightening the notification process and ensuring greater scrutiny of future deals. For the defense sector, however, the contracts represent a near‑term infusion of billions of dollars, reinforcing confidence in continued demand for U.S. weapons systems across key allied markets.

Department of State has approved contracts worth $15 billion

By Michał Górski · 2 February 2026, 16:55

The U.S. Department of State has approved a multibillion‑dollar arms sale to Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Photo: Damian Łubkowski / 18 Dywizja Zmechanizowana

The total value of U.S. weaponry to be sold to Israel and Saudi Arabia in the near future amounts to over $15 billion. As reported by the media, the Department of State approved on Friday the sale of packages that include, among other things, several dozen Apache helicopters for Tel Aviv and several hundred Patriot missiles for Riyadh.

Apaches for Israel, Patriots for Saudi Arabia

In Israel’s case, the cost of the sale is expected to reach nearly $7 billion (specifically $6.67 billion). The main portion of the purchase concerns Apache helicopters. Thirty aircraft equipped with rocket launchers and targeting systems will cost Israel a total of $3.8 billion. In addition to the helicopters, the Israeli military will also receive 3,250 light tactical vehicles, which, according to the Associated Press, are intended “for personnel transport (…) to extend communication lines for the Israeli armed forces.” The cost of these vehicles is nearly $2 billion.

Saudi Arabia is expected to spend even more on American equipment, paying approximately $9 billion for, among other things, 730 missile rounds for its Patriot air‑defence batteries. “This enhanced capability will protect the ground forces of Saudi Arabia, the United States, and local partners, and will significantly improve Saudi Arabia’s contribution to the integrated air and missile defence system in the region,” the statement reads.

In the context of the U.S. sale to Saudi Arabia, it is worth recalling May 2025, when, during President Trump’s visit to the Arabian Peninsula, multibillion‑dollar agreements were signed with Riyadh. At that time, the Saudis committed to investing $600 billion in the United States and signed defence‑procurement contracts worth $142 billion with American companies.

Opposition in Congress?

According to the Associated Press, the State Department’s decision to sell the mentioned weapons to Israel was not well received by some members of the U.S. Congress. Representative Gregory Meeks, the leading Democratic member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, accused the Trump administration of hastily announcing the deals with Israel in a manner that “disregards congressional oversight and long‑standing practice.” Meeks reportedly stated that “the Trump administration has blatantly ignored Congress’s long‑standing prerogatives while refusing to engage Congress on key issues concerning next steps in the Gaza Strip and broader U.S.–Israeli policy.”