Sponsors (11)
Introduced February 12, 2026 by Theodore Paul Budd · Last progress February 12, 2026
The bill accelerates U.S.–Israel defense technology cooperation and provides modest, predictable funding and oversight to speed capability transition—strengthening military readiness and defense-industry ties—while increasing taxpayer costs, raising risks of technology leakage and domestic crowding, and adding administrative, safety, and diplomatic tradeoffs.
U.S. military personnel (and, indirectly, civilians) will get faster access to advanced Israeli defense technologies (e.g., counter‑UAS, air/missile defense, cyber/EW/AI) as the bill accelerates joint R&D and transition into U.S. programs of record.
U.S. defense contractors, tech workers, and researchers gain expanded collaborative R&D, co‑production, and procurement opportunities that can create business, jobs, and technology-transfer benefits for the domestic defense industrial base.
The legislation reaffirms and deepens U.S.–Israel defense cooperation (building on the 2016 MOU), which supports a predictable bilateral security relationship and U.S. strategic posture in the region.
Taxpayers face increased federal spending risk — the bill authorizes up to $150 million per year (FY2027–2029), or $450 million total if appropriated, and oversight could prompt further resource demands.
Expanded technology sharing and co‑production increases the risk that sensitive capabilities, operational details, or intellectual property could leak or be inadequately protected, harming U.S. security or commercial advantage.
Prioritizing Israeli‑origin or jointly produced systems could crowd out some U.S. domestic R&D and favor particular contractors, reducing competition and influencing which technologies receive investment.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Creates a DoD-led U.S.–Israel defense technology cooperation initiative to accelerate joint R&D, transition, and co-production and authorizes $150M/year for FY2027–FY2029.
Creates a Department of Defense–led U.S.–Israel defense technology cooperation initiative to speed joint research, testing, transition, and industrial co-production of Israeli-origin and jointly developed defense technologies across areas such as missile/air defense, counter-UAS, AI, autonomy, directed energy, cyber, biotech, and logistics. The Secretary of Defense must stand up the initiative with Israeli concurrence, coordinate with State and Commerce, brief Congress within 180 days, deliver yearly unclassified reports (with possible classified annexes), publish periodic public updates as allowed, and the Act authorizes $150 million per year for FY2027–FY2029 to carry out the program. The initiative focuses on integrating Israeli and jointly developed technologies into U.S. acquisition pathways and the defense industrial base, promoting joint R&D and prototyping, facilitating licensing and U.S.-based co-production, and coordinating across multiple DoD offices and partner programs while protecting sensitive and export‑controlled information.