Israel Signs Deal for 12 Boeing Apache Helicopters

Israel has signed an agreement with the United States to acquire 12 Boeing AH-64E Apache attack helicopters, with deliveries expected to begin in the early 2030s, the Ministry of Defense said Wednesday. The agreement covers the Echo variant, described by the ministry as the newest and most advanced Apache model. The aircraft will be supplied by Boeing under a government-to-government arrangement. The ministry has not disclosed the signed agreement’s value or provided a specific delivery date for the helicopters. The deal followed Israeli government approval of a transfer of about 1.03 billion shekels to the Defense Ministry for the procurement. One report said most of the funding would come from planned cuts to a development program for Arab communities covering 2027-2029, with a smaller amount from the 2026 budget. The procurement had faced a budget dispute between the Defense and Finance ministries. Reports said funding gaps and a missed U.S. ordering deadline had threatened the purchase. The agreement was finalized after the government approved the transfer, and the ministry said Israeli and U.S. officials tailored the deal to meet Israel’s needs.