The US Department of State has approved a possible sale of nearly $2 billion worth of counter-unmanned aerial systems to Kuwait. The sale aims to improve Kuwait's ability to counter current and future threats, particularly after recent attacks by Iran on Kuwait's infrastructure.
The request for the counter-drone platforms, built by Anduril, comes after Iran launched a drone and missile attack on June 3, damaging the Kuwait International Airport and killing one person. The approval is seen as a move to support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a major non-NATO ally in the Middle East.
The estimated $1.98 billion sale will include non-major defense equipment, such as command and control systems, personnel training, and software development, as well as electronic and kinetic defeat capabilities against unmanned aerial systems. The sale is not expected to alter the basic military balance in the region.
