US State Department Approves Potential Arms Sales to Kuwait

The US State Department has approved the potential sale to Kuwait of Apache helicopters and spare parts for the Patriot missile system in two separate deals that could have a value of $4.2 billion. Kuwait’s government had asked to buy eight AH-64E Apache Longbow Attack Helicopters and the upgrade of 16 of their current AH-64D Apache Longbow Attack Helicopters to the AH-64E configuration. If the deal happens, it could have a value of $4 billion for the helicopters and $200 million towards spare parts and training for their upgraded Patriot missile defence systems, the Pentagon said in a statement. The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of the possible sale but, despite the State Department approval, the notification does not indicate that a contract has been signed or that negotiations have concluded.