U.S. approves military sale to Kuwait of counter-unmanned aerial systems platforms

The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $1.98 billion sale of counter-drone systems and services to Kuwait, a move aimed at bolstering the Gulf state’s defenses against the growing threat posed by unmanned aerial systems, according to a U.S. government announcement.

The package, which still requires congressional review and a final contract, centers on a suite of electronic and kinetic systems designed to detect, track and defeat drones. The principal contractor is Anduril Industries of Costa Mesa, California, reflecting the Pentagon’s increasing reliance on newer defense firms for counter-unmanned aerial systems (C-UAS) technology.

Kuwait requested a range of equipment, including Roadrunner-Munition and Anvil-Kinetic counter-drone platforms, launch boxes, Anduril’s Lattice command-and-control software, Long Range Sentry Towers with fire control, mobile and extended-range Sentry Towers, Maritime Sentry Towers, the Pulsar electromagnetic warfare system, Menace tactical operations centers, generators, publications, personnel training, software development, and U.S. government and contractor support services. The deal also covers logistics and broader program support.

U.S. officials said the proposed sale would support American foreign policy and national security objectives by strengthening a “major non-NATO ally” that has contributed to regional stability and economic progress in the Middle East. They added that the package would not change the basic military balance in the region and that Kuwait would be able to absorb the systems into its military police forces.

The systems at the core of the proposed sale reflect the multipronged approach militaries are taking to counter drones, combining both “soft-kill” and “hard-kill” options. Electronic warfare capabilities can jam or disrupt hostile drones, while kinetic interceptors are intended to destroy them outright. Anduril’s Roadrunner-Munition is an expendable interceptor variant developed for high-speed engagements, while Anvil is a smaller kinetic system used to physically disable or destroy drones. The company’s Sentry Towers integrate sensors for persistent surveillance and cueing, and its Lattice software fuses data from multiple sources to command and control counter-drone responses.

The prospective sale comes as Gulf states expand air and missile defenses amid persistent drone and cruise missile threats across the region. Attacks on critical infrastructure in recent years, along with the widespread use of inexpensive, commercially available drones in conflicts nearby, have accelerated demand for scalable C-UAS solutions. For Kuwait, which already fields U.S.-made air-defense assets and maintains close security ties with Washington, the move would deepen cooperation on emerging threats that challenge traditional air-defense architectures.

As with all Foreign Military Sales, the approval marks a potential transaction rather than a finalized contract. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency typically notifies Congress of proposed sales after State Department approval; lawmakers can raise objections, and the final scope and cost can shift during negotiations. If it proceeds, the deal would also include training and long-term sustainment—often decisive components in integrating complex new capabilities and ensuring they remain effective.

No delivery timeline was disclosed. U.S. officials reiterated that the sale is intended to enhance Kuwait’s ability to counter current and future unmanned aerial threats without escalating regional tensions.