U.S. submits $6.4B arms sale to Israel with 30 AH-64E helicopters and 3,250 armored vehicles.

The United States has submitted a $6.4 billion arms sale proposal to Congress that would deliver 30 AH-64E Apache helicopters and 3,250 armored vehicles to Israel.

According to information published by Reuters on September 19, the U.S. administration has formally asked Congress to approve a $6.4 billion arms package for Israel. The proposed sale includes 30 AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters, 3,250 armored vehicles, and support equipment, aimed at boosting Israel’s military capabilities amid continuing Gaza operations and mounting regional threats.
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The United States plans to deliver 30 AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters to Israel under a proposed $6.4 billion arms package, marking the first time the Israeli Air Force will operate the most advanced variant of the Apache attack helicopter. (Picture source: Editing Army Recognition Group)

The proposed package includes $3.8 billion allocated for the acquisition of AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters, the most advanced iteration of the Boeing-built attack helicopter family. While Israel currently operates a fleet of AH-64A Peten and AH-64D Saraf variants, this would be the country’s first acquisition of the AH-64E model. The E-model introduces a new era of networked battlefield aviation, featuring a suite of technological upgrades designed to enable multi-domain operations, extended-range engagements, and full manned-unmanned teaming.

Technically, the AH-64E is powered by uprated General Electric T700-GE-701D engines, delivering enhanced high-hot performance and enabling greater speed and lift at altitude. The helicopter is equipped with the Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor (M-TADS/PNVS), providing high-resolution, all-weather targeting capabilities through electro-optical and infrared sensors. The AH-64E also incorporates open systems architecture and secure datalinks such as the Link 16 tactical network, allowing it to operate in real-time coordination with ground forces, UAVs, and other air platforms.

A key operational advantage of the E-model is its MUM-T capability (Manned-Unmanned Teaming), which allows the crew to control and receive video feeds from nearby drones, including MQ-1C Gray Eagle or Israeli-built UAVs. This enables the Apache to strike targets beyond line-of-sight or coordinate joint fires with minimal latency. Additionally, the E-model features composite rotor blades, improved transmission systems, and a strengthened fuselage for increased survivability against anti-air threats such as MANPADS and radar-guided systems.

Israel was one of the first foreign operators of the Apache, receiving AH-64A helicopters in 1990 and later upgrading to AH-64D models in the early 2000s. The “Saraf” variant currently in service features numerous Israeli-modified subsystems, including local EW suites and weapon integration. However, aging airframes and the demand for network-centric strike capabilities have pushed the Israeli Air Force to seek a next-generation rotorcraft platform. The AH-64E now emerges as a combat-proven solution, already deployed with the U.S. Army and several NATO allies in missions across Iraq, Syria, and Eastern Europe.

The $1.9 billion component of the package earmarked for 3,250 infantry assault vehicles is expected to greatly expand the Israel Defense Forces’ armored mobility, particularly for its mechanized infantry brigades operating in Gaza and along the northern border. While the exact vehicle types have not been publicly disclosed, defense industry sources suggest a likely mix of MRAPs and wheeled APCs, possibly sourced from Oshkosh Defense or Navistar. The deal follows previous transfers under the U.S. Excess Defense Articles (EDA) program, including the delivery of over 100 MRAP vehicles in 2014, which have been used by Israeli forces in urban counterinsurgency roles and convoy protection.

Another $750 million is designated for spare parts, sustainment, training, and logistical support, reinforcing Washington’s strategic intent to ensure full operational availability of transferred systems. The sale appears to be structured in line with the broader framework of the U.S.-Israel 10-year Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2016, which allocates $38 billion in military aid through 2028, although no official has confirmed whether this specific package is being financed under MOU terms. Based on standard Foreign Military Sales timelines, initial deliveries of the AH-64E could begin by late 2026, with operational integration into Israeli Air Force squadrons potentially achieved in 2027, pending congressional approval and contract finalization.

Despite bipartisan backing, the arms package is likely to generate heated debate in Washington. Democratic lawmakers have raised concerns over the use of U.S.-supplied weapons in densely populated conflict zones, particularly Gaza and the West Bank, where airstrikes have triggered international criticism. Under the Arms Export Control Act, the United States must verify that end-users comply with international humanitarian law. Still, senior congressional aides told Army Recognition that the deal is expected to pass the 30-day review period, citing longstanding strategic alignment and broad political support for Israel’s defense needs.

If finalized, the introduction of the AH-64E would mark a significant leap in Israel’s close air support and battlefield reconnaissance capabilities, bringing its helicopter fleet to parity with that of advanced NATO partners. Coupled with the large-scale infusion of armored vehicles, the deal would significantly bolster Israel’s ability to conduct joint, multi-domain operations in both conventional and hybrid threat environments.

At a time of rising regional volatility, including intensified Iranian proxy activity across Syria, Lebanon, and the Red Sea, the $6.4 billion arms package signals a renewed U.S. commitment to reinforcing Israel’s qualitative military edge while integrating allied platforms into a broader American-led defense architecture.