US authorizes sale of $2B in anti-drone weapons to Kuwait

The United States approved a $1.98 billion arms sale to Kuwait on Friday, supplying counter-drone technology to one of the Gulf states hit by Iranian strikes during the Middle East war.

The State Department said the sale would come from defense company Anduril, founded by a supporter of President Donald Trump.

What does the US counter-drone sale to Kuwait include?

The State Department approved the sale of counter-unmanned aerial systems platforms and related equipment to Kuwait. The package is intended to enhance Kuwait's ability to counter drone threats and improve regional defense capabilities.

Anduril, the U.S. defense company supplying the systems, was founded by a prominent Trump supporter.

Why does Kuwait need counter-drone systems now?

Earlier this week, Kuwait officials condemned what they called Iranian aggression after a drone strike on Kuwait's international airport killed one person and injured 63 others. Tehran denied involvement in the attack, attributing it to an error in U.S. Patriot missile defense systems. The strike came despite the April 8 ceasefire that paused the war sparked by the February 28 U.S.-Israeli bombing of Iran.

The ceasefire has largely held, though sporadic exchanges of fire have continued. The State Department said the sale would support U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives. It described Kuwait as a major non-NATO ally and "an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East."