Amid escalating tensions in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific region, the United States continues to increase its arms sales to both areas. On Friday, the Pentagon and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) issued multiple significant notifications in a single day, approving the sale of advanced weapons systems worth over $15.6 billion to Saudi Arabia and Israel.
According to the latest announcement from the DSCA, the U.S. State Department has approved the sale of potential military equipment to Israel exceeding $6.6 billion, involving four different contracts covering various dimensions such as air-to-ground strike capabilities, ground mobility, logistics maintenance, and auxiliary support.
The sale includes $3.8 billion worth of AH-64E Apache attack helicopters (manufactured by Boeing and Lockheed Martin), as well as $1.98 billion worth of Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV). These equipment acquisitions will enhance the precision strike and ground rapid response capabilities of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Additionally, there is a $740 million contract related to the power systems and logistical support for the “Namer” armored personnel carrier to ensure the logistical reliability of their ground heavy forces.
On the same day, the U.S. State Department also approved a special $150 million contract for AW119Kx light multi-purpose helicopters. According to the notification, these helicopters produced by Leonardo Helicopters will be used for border patrol, protection of critical infrastructure, and personnel training missions.
In the list announced on January 30th, the highest single amount approved was for the sale of the “Patriot Missile System” to Saudi Arabia, estimated to be as high as $9 billion. According to the Pentagon statement, the core of this arms sale is 730 PAC-3 MSE (Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement) missiles, with Lockheed Martin as the main contractor.
This transaction not only involves a substantial amount but also has significant strategic defense implications. Saudi Arabia has long faced threats from ballistic missiles and drones from the region (especially the direction of Yemen). The PAC-3 MSE, as one of the most advanced kinetic intercept systems, will greatly enhance Saudi Arabia’s ability to defend its airspace and energy infrastructure.
The U.S. Department of Defense emphasizes that this arms sale is defensive in nature, aimed at maintaining regional stability. It also reaffirms that this sale “will not alter the military balance in the Middle East and will not have a detrimental impact on U.S. defense readiness.”
In addition to the two major hotspots in the Middle East and the Indo-Pacific, records from the DSCA show that the U.S. military supply chain is operating at full capacity to meet the needs of global allies while also enhancing the defense capabilities of allies in the Asia-Pacific region.
Spain was granted approval on January 29th for the mid-life upgrade of F-100 patrol vessels valued at $1.7 billion, including five sets of Aegis weapon systems, MK 41 Vertical Launch Systems, and next-generation surface search radars and support equipment. Peru was also approved on January 15th for the construction support project of the Kayao Naval Base, with an expected total value of $1.5 billion.
Moreover, on December 17, 2025, the DSCA announced a series of arms sales notifications to Taiwan, totaling a staggering $11.1 billion—a new record for a single notification.
The list indicates that Taiwan will acquire the HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) worth $4.05 billion, M109A7 self-propelled howitzers worth $4.03 billion, as well as Javelin and TOW anti-tank missile systems. Along with the procurement of ALTIUS unmanned aircraft systems and tactical mission networks, it demonstrates that U.S.-Taiwan military cooperation has evolved from simple arms purchases to the integration of battlefield command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (C4ISR).