AH-64E Apache Guardian
On Friday, January 30, 2026, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) published the U.S. Department of State’s approval of a potential sale to Israel of 30 AH-64E Apache Guardian attack helicopters for a maximum value of 3.8 billion USD.
AH-64D Seraf / Photo: Siły Obronne Izraela
According to the published information, the government in Tel Aviv requested the option to additionally acquire 70 T700-GE-701D turboshaft engines, 30 sets of the upgraded AN/ASQ-170 M-TADS/AN/AAR-11 PNVS Arrowhead target acquisition designation system, 30 AN/APG-78 Longbow fire control radars, 30 upgraded AN/APR-48B MRFI radar warning system suites, 30 AN/AAR-57 CMWS missile warning systems, 30 AN/ARC-231A (RT-1987) secure communications radios, 60 M36E8 Hellfire CATM training missiles, 72 encrypted satellite/inertial navigation sets with M-Code (Eagle-M) and a multimode receiver (MMR), and 36 CIRCM infrared countermeasure protection systems.
In addition, the package also includes the following items other than those defined as MDE: Enhanced Image Intensifier (EI2) electronic image converters, AN/APR-39 radar warning detection sets, AN/APX-123A Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) transponders, AN/AVR-2B laser warning detection sets, upgraded data modems, LGMA M299 weapon pylons, M261 19-tube launchers for 70 mm Hydra 70 unguided rockets, small tactical terminals, Improved Countermeasures Dispensing Systems (ICMD), automatic radio direction finders, Doppler radar velocity sensors, radar altimeters (RACC), AN/ARN-153 TACAN tactical navigation systems, GPS receivers, KIV-77 encryption devices, weapons, rocket launchers, receivers for unmanned systems communications under the MUM-T (Manned/Unmanned Teaming) concept, CAD/PAD flare and chaff launchers, Link-16 KOR-24A data link terminals, Longbow radar crew trainers, Tactical Engagement Simulation System (TESS) simulators, Maintenance Training Devices (MTD), training equipment, communications systems, helmets, generators, rescue equipment, transport and organizational equipment, spare and repair parts, ancillary equipment, tools and test equipment, technical data and publications, personnel training and training equipment, technical assistance from the U.S. government and the contractors (Boeing and Lockheed Martin), technical and logistics support services, and other related program and logistics support elements.
At present, the Israeli Air Force (Chejl-ha Awir) operates 48 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, mostly older AH-64A Peten variants and newer AH-64D Saraf helicopters equipped with the Longbow radar. (Production Contract for the AH-64E Apache Guardian for Poland)
AW119Kx Koala
On the same day, approval was also granted for the sale of another batch of light, single-engine multirole AW119Kx Koala helicopters, which have received the local designation Ofer. While 12 aircraft had been contracted previously, the size of the new batch has not been disclosed.
AW119Kx Koala (Ofer) / Photo: Chej-ha Awir
The new package for Israel has been valued at up to 150 million USD. In addition to the helicopters, it includes aviation ground support equipment, tools covered by a supplemental type certificate, engineering services, spare and repair parts, ancillary equipment, tools and test equipment, technical data and publications, personnel training and training equipment, technical assistance from the U.S. government and the contractor (AgustaWestland Philadelphia; part of Leonardo Helicopters USA), technical and logistics support services, and other related program and logistics support elements. These items will be added to a previously implemented case whose value was below the congressional notification threshold. The original Foreign Military Sales (FMS) case, valued at 78.2 million USD, included the following non-MDE items: an undisclosed number of AW119Kx helicopters, spare parts, and support.
It should be recalled that on May 26, 2024, the first of the helicopters ordered up to that point was flown at the AgustaWestland Philadelphia aviation facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The first seven helicopters were ordered on February 14, 2019, for approximately 350 million USD, followed by another five, including two simulators, on September 23, 2020.
The AW119Kx Koala won the tender to replace Bell OH-58B Kiowa training helicopters (derived from the civilian 206 Jet Ranger and locally designated Saifan), which had been used since the 1970s at the Vihiys Latisah training center of the Air Corps at Hatzor Air Base in the Southern District. Counteroffers from Bell (with the 407GXP model) and Airbus Helicopters (with the H125 Écureuil) were rejected. The three bids were evaluated in August 2016.
Interestingly, the selection of the Koala was a tied procurement, as at the same time the Italian Ministry of Defence decided to select Israeli simulators produced by Elbit Systems. Earlier, Israel had made a similar arrangement when it chose the M-346 Master advanced jet trainer (locally designated Lavi). In the case of the second contract for Italian helicopters, the authorities in Rome ordered Rafael Spike anti-tank guided missiles and helicopter simulators from Elbit Systems.
The modified AW119Kx Koala, designated TH-119, was selected by the U.S. Navy under the AHTS (Advanced Helicopter Training System) program, previously known as TH-XX, and received the designation TH-73A Thrasher (approval for their purchase was also granted to the Philippines). Approval to acquire the baseline Koala was also recently granted to Bosnia and Herzegovina.
In the previous decade, in 2018, the Koala was selected by the Portuguese Air Force (five helicopters plus two under an option) and the Latvian State Border Guard (two helicopters), as well as by customers in Argentina, Algeria, Australia, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, Brazil, Ecuador, Malaysia, Mexico, South Africa, Turkey, and South Korea.
JLTV
The authorities in Tel Aviv have received the green light to purchase additional Joint Light Tactical Vehicles (JLTV). The latest package allows for the acquisition of up to 3,250 vehicles at a maximum value of 1.98 billion USD.
Photo: Israeli Ministry Of Defense
The package includes vehicles in the M1279A1/A2/A3 Utility transport variant, the M1278A1/A2/A3 Heavy Guns Carrier for integration with heavy weapons, the M1281A1/A2/A3 Close Combat Weapons Carrier for integration with light weapons, and the M1280A1/A2/A3 General Purpose variant.
The package also includes the following items other than those defined as MDE: M153 CROWS remotely operated weapon stations, M1289 transport trailers, integration kits, standard and non-standard C4ISR (Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance) system equipment, customer-specific system integration, gunner protection kits, AN/VAS-5 Driver Vision Enhancer (DVE) night vision goggles, spare and repair parts, special tools and test equipment, manuals and technical publications; maintenance instructors, training in the operation of the new equipment, comprehensive field support, base-level maintenance, repair, and return support, U.S. government and contractor (AM General) engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and other related logistics and program support elements.
It is worth noting that, since AM General is the prime contractor, Israel primarily requested improved vehicles in the A2 variant, unveiled in March 2024. These vehicles offer increased corrosion resistance and feature reduced average fuel consumption as well as the use of 24-volt lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries, which extend operational range. The company is also to ensure readiness for future vehicle architecture upgrades through the Modular Base Integration Kit. The vehicles are powered by turbocharged MY 2024 L5P Duramax diesel engines paired with a six-speed Allison 2500SP automatic transmission and incorporate solutions that reduce acoustic signature. As a result, they are referred to as second-generation vehicles.
Previously, Israel purchased several hundred A1-variant JLTVs from Oshkosh Defense. On December 1, 2023, 75 vehicles were ordered through the FMS (Foreign Military Sales) procedure in an undisclosed configuration for 29 million USD, with delivery scheduled by the end of September 2025, along with several dozen additional vehicles acquired via the DCS (Direct Commercial Sales) process directly from the manufacturer, Oshkosh Defense.
On March 28, 2024, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced the start of accelerated deliveries, and the first vehicles in service were observed on November 2 of the same year. It was disclosed that the armor packages, tailored to the customer’s requirements, were supplied by the domestic company Plasan (via its subsidiary Plasan North America). On November 24, 2024, the purchase of several hundred additional vehicles was approved.
Power Packs for Namer Vehicles
The most recently approved package includes power-pack propulsion units for heavy armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles of the Namer family, valued at up to USD 740 million.
Photo: Israeli Ministry Of Defense
An undisclosed number of MT883 diesel engines with NPPLT transmission systems in both heavy and light configurations, rated at 1,500 hp, was requested.
The package also includes an integrated logistics support package covering specialized C-level maintenance tools and transmission parts, control and diagnostic systems, preservation and packaging, transport containers, configuration management, technical manuals, spare parts catalogs, other documentation and publications, technical assistance from the U.S. government and the prime contractor, as well as one-time engineering work by the contractor, along with other related logistics and program support elements.
The prime contractor is to be MTU America of Novi, Michigan, representing Rolls-Royce Power Systems Inc. in North America. A previous analogous package, approved on February 12, 2019, included 240 power-pack sets in the heavy configuration and 30 in the light configuration, valued at up to 238 million USD.
The new power units with transmission systems will replace the Continental AVDS-1790-9AR diesel engines rated at 1,200 hp, which are also used in Merkava Mk 3 tanks. The MT883 engines, paired with the Renk HSWL 295TM hydromechanical automatic transmission, power the latest Merkava Mk 4 tanks. The engines will most likely be installed in both armored personnel carriers and infantry fighting vehicles of the Namer family. Production of the APCs began in 2008, while the IFV variant was unveiled on July 31, 2017. By 2027, deliveries of a total of 531 Namer vehicles in various variants had been planned.
On August 21, 2025, the Israeli Ministry of Defense announced that the ministry’s Military Procurement Commission and the Joint Defense Budget Committee of the Knesset had received a plan to procure additional Namer armored personnel carriers, alongside other vehicles.
Finally, it is worth noting that the first information about Israel submitting a request to the United States for the purchase of AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters and JLTV vehicles was reported on September 19, 2025, by the Reuters news agency.
