Sponsors (52)
Official title: To enhance bilateral defense cooperation between the United States and Israel, and for other purposes.
Introduced February 12, 2026 by Ronny Jackson · Last progress February 12, 2026
The bill accelerates U.S. access to and joint development of advanced Israeli defense technologies—boosting military capabilities, interoperability, and industry opportunities—while increasing federal spending, creating supply‑chain and technology‑security risks, and raising oversight, competition, and reporting trade‑offs.
U.S. military personnel and national security planners will gain faster access to advanced Israeli-origin and jointly developed defense technologies (missile defense, counter‑UAS, AI), improving battlefield capability and force protection.
Service members and defense planners will see improved interoperability and resilience across cyber, electronic warfare, and space domains through coordinated R&D, testing, training, and information sharing among U.S. defense agencies and Israeli partners.
U.S. defense contractors, government partners, and tech workers stand to gain more business, jobs, and commercialization opportunities from accelerated co‑production, joint ventures, licensing, and clearer industry priorities with Israeli partners.
There is a heightened risk that accelerating transfers of foreign‑origin and jointly developed technologies could enable espionage, unintended proliferation, or leakage of sensitive capabilities that would harm U.S. national security if safeguards fail.
Taxpayers could face increased federal spending and higher defense budget demands (including the $450 million authorized over three years if appropriated), adding to deficit pressures and competing with other budget priorities.
U.S. dependence on Israeli suppliers or favoring Israeli‑origin components risks supply‑chain fragility and could complicate secure sourcing of critical defense items.
Based on analysis of 5 sections of legislative text.
Authorizes a DoD‑led U.S.–Israel defense technology initiative to accelerate joint R&D, integration, and U.S. co‑production, with annual reporting and $150M/year for FY2027–2029.
Creates a Defense Technology Cooperation Initiative to accelerate joint U.S.–Israel development, testing, and integration of Israeli-origin and jointly developed defense technologies into U.S. military systems. It requires coordination among Defense Department research and acquisition offices, other federal agencies, and Israeli counterparts, sets reporting requirements to Congress, and authorizes $150 million per year for FY2027–2029. The Initiative targets specific technology domains (for example counter‑UAS, missile/air defense, AI/quantum/autonomy, directed energy, cyber/electronic warfare, biotech/medical defense, contested logistics, and defense industrial base co‑production), aims to create transition and acquisition pathways, and calls for public unclassified updates while protecting classified or export‑controlled information.