The State Department has signed off on a sweeping package of potential arms sales to Israel worth roughly $6.6 billion, underscoring Washington’s continued military backing of its closest Middle East ally as Israel reassesses battlefield needs after the Oct. 7 Hamas-led attack.

According to notices published by the U.S. State Department, the proposed sales are split across four contracts, led by a $3.8 billion deal for AH-64E Apache attack helicopters and related equipment. Additional approvals cover nearly $2 billion for Joint Light Tactical Vehicles — mine-resistant, ambush-protected armored vehicles used by infantry units — as well as $740 million for Namer armored personnel carrier power packs and about $150 million for AW119Kx light utility helicopters.

The deals remain subject to final legal steps and congressional approval, but together they represent one of the most significant U.S. arms packages for Israel in recent years.

Israeli defense officials say the Apache purchase is especially urgent. In reporting cited by Maariv, senior officials in the IDF say the Oct. 7 massacre exposed critical gaps in Israel’s reliance on drones for border defense.

“The UAV sees only a partial picture of the battlefield and has difficulty producing the broad situational awareness that the Apache helicopter provides in real time,” one senior Israeli defense official told Maariv. The official added that against UAV threats from Gaza, Lebanon, Iran and Yemen, the Apache “has a clear advantage” — both for stopping cross-border raids and for combat against guerrilla forces.

The Israeli Air Force, which has seen its fleet of attack helicopters shrink in recent years, is reportedly considering the purchase of as many as 100 Apache helicopters, with at least half sought on an accelerated delivery timeline. The Namer armored personnel carrier included in the package is based on the Merkava Mark IV tank chassis and is a mainstay of Israel’s heavy ground forces.

In its formal justification, the State Department said the proposed sales align with U.S. strategic priorities. “The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability,” the department said.

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