Overview
- The State Department, using Section 36(b) emergency powers on Friday, waived congressional review to approve more than $8.6 billion in sales, a move that drew immediate criticism from Democrats.
- Qatar was cleared for $4.01 billion in Patriot interceptor replenishment and $992.4 million in precision-guided APKWS rockets, Kuwait for a $2.5 billion integrated battle command system, Israel for $992.4 million in APKWS, and the UAE for $147.6 million in APKWS.
- BAE Systems was named for the APKWS deals, while Lockheed Martin and RTX were listed for Qatar’s Patriot and Kuwait’s command system, with Northrop Grumman also on the Kuwait package.
- The approval is the administration’s third emergency bypass since the Iran war began, and officials warn long build times for interceptors and rockets could slow deliveries as U.S. stockpiles tighten.
- Patriot batteries are designed to shoot down incoming missiles and drones, while APKWS kits convert unguided rockets into laser-guided rounds that can target aircraft, drones, or ground threats with more precision.