The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026 includes extensive provisions that reinforce the U.S.–Israel security partnership through funding authorizations, expanded cooperation frameworks, and policy directives. The legislation expands and extends U.S.–Israel cooperation on missile defense systems, including Iron Dome, David’s Sling, and Arrow 3, authorizes increased funding for joint counter-tunnel and counter–unmanned aerial systems programs, and supports continued co-production of defense technologies in the United States. In addition to Israel-specific provisions, the Act contains regional measures relevant to Israel’s security, including countering Iranian-backed terrorism, monitoring Iran’s nuclear activities, assessing the impact of international arms embargoes on U.S. allies, preventing discriminatory exclusion of allies from defense forums, and strengthening joint military exercises. Together, these provisions reflect congressional intent to sustain Israel’s qualitative military edge, deepen bilateral defense integration, and address broader regional threats. The defense bill includes nearly $700 million for U.S.-Israel programs.
Below are the relevant provisions of the NDAA concerning Israel and the region.
Israel-Explicit Provisions
SEC. 1255. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF UNITED STATES–ISRAEL ANTI-TUNNEL COOPERATION.
Section 1279 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 (22 U.S.C. 8606 note) is amended—(1) in subsection (b)(4), by striking “$50,000,000” and inserting “$80,000,000”; and (2) in subsection (f), by striking “December 31, 2026” and inserting “December 31, 2028”.
SEC. 1256. EXTENSION AND MODIFICATION OF UNITED STATES–ISRAEL COOPERATION TO COUNTER UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEMS.
Section 1278 of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020 (22 U.S.C. 8606 note) is amended—(1) in subsection (b)(4), by striking “$55,000,000” and inserting “$75,000,000”; and (2) in subsection (f), by striking “December 31, 2026” and inserting “December 31, 2028”.
Funds described in paragraph (1) for the Iron Dome short-range rocket defense program shall be available subject to the terms and conditions in the Agreement Between the Department of Defense of the United States of America and the Ministry of Defense of the State of Israel Concerning Iron Dome Defense System Procurement, signed on March 5, 2014, as amended to include co-production for Tamir interceptors.
Not later than 30 days prior to the initial obligation of funds described in paragraph (1), the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees—(i) a certification that the amended bilateral international agreement specified in subparagraph (A) is being implemented as provided in such agreement; (ii) an assessment detailing any risks relating to the implementation of such agreement; and (iii) for system improvements resulting in modified Iron Dome components and Tamir interceptor sub-components, a certification that the Government of Israel has demonstrated successful completion of Production Readiness Reviews, including the validation of production lines, the verification of component conformance, and the verification of performance to specification as defined in the Iron Dome Defense System Procurement Agreement, as further amended.
Of the funds authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2026 for procurement, Defense-wide, and available for the Missile Defense Agency not more than $40,000,000 may be provided to the Government of Israel to procure the David’s Sling Weapon System, including for co-production of parts and components in the United States by United States industry.
Provision of funds specified in paragraph (1) shall be subject to the terms and conditions in the bilateral co-production agreement, including—(A) a one-for-one cash match is made by Israel or in another matching amount that otherwise meets best efforts (as mutually agreed to by the United States and Israel); and (B) co-production of parts, components, and all-up rounds (if appropriate) in the United States by United States industry for the David’s Sling Weapon System is not less than 50 percent.
Of the funds authorized to be appropriated for fiscal year 2026 for procurement, Defense-wide, and available for the Missile Defense Agency not more than $100,000,000 may be provided to the Government of Israel for the Arrow 3 Upper Tier Interceptor Program, including for co-production of parts and components in the United States by United States industry.
The Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment shall submit to the appropriate congressional committees a certification that the Government of Israel has demonstrated the successful completion of the knowledge points, technical milestones, and Production Readiness Reviews required by the research, development, and technology agreement and the bilateral co-production agreement for the Arrow 3 Upper Tier Interceptor Program.
SEC. 6241. MODIFICATION OF CERTAIN TEMPORARY AUTHORIZATIONS RELATED TO MUNITIONS REPLACEMENT.
Section 1244 of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 (Public Law 117–263) is amended—(1) in the section heading, by striking “AND ISRAEL” and inserting “ISRAEL, AND THE UNITED STATES DEFENSE INDUSTRIAL BASE”; and (2) in subsection (a)—(A) in paragraph (1), by striking “or Israel” each place it appears and inserting “Israel, or the United States defense industrial base”; and (B) in paragraph (5), by striking “or Israel” each place it appears and inserting “Israel, or the United States defense industrial base”.
The table of contents at the beginning of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 is amended by striking the item relating to section 1244 and inserting the following: “1244. Temporary authorizations related to Ukraine, Taiwan, Israel, and the United States defense industrial base.” The table of contents at the beginning of title XII of the James M. Inhofe National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023 is amended by striking the item relating to section 1244 and inserting the following: “1244. Temporary authorizations related to Ukraine, Taiwan, Israel, and the United States defense industrial base.”
Israel-Relevant Regional Provisions (Verbatim)
OPPOSITION TO DISCRIMINATORY PARTICIPATION PRACTICES.
The Secretary of Defense shall ensure that the Department of Defense does not participate in, and does not provide support for, any international defense exhibition, forum, or cooperative activity that prohibits the participation of a United States ally or partner on the basis of nationality or political considerations, including activities that otherwise have the effect of excluding such ally or partner from participation.
ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF INTERNATIONAL ARMS EMBARGOES.
The Secretary of Defense shall conduct ongoing assessments of the impact of international arms embargoes and restrictions on the defense capabilities of United States allies and partners and shall identify measures the United States may take to mitigate any resulting vulnerabilities, including through security cooperation, defense trade, and joint capability development.
REPORT ON JOINT MILITARY EXERCISES WITH ALLIES AND PARTNERS.
The Secretary of Defense shall submit to the congressional defense committees a report on joint military exercises conducted with allies and partners, including the scope, objectives, and outcomes of such exercises and any recommendations to enhance interoperability and readiness.
COUNTERING IRANIAN REGIONAL TERRORISM.
The Secretary of Defense may provide additional support to regional partners in the Middle East to counter the threats posed by Iranian-backed terrorist organizations, including Hezbollah and Hamas, and to strengthen regional security cooperation and counterterrorism capabilities.
COMBATING IRANIAN INFLUENCE IN IRAQ.
None of the funds authorized to be appropriated by this Act for assistance to the Government of Iraq may be obligated or expended until the Secretary of Defense certifies to the appropriate congressional committees that the Government of Iraq has taken credible and verifiable steps to reduce the influence of the Islamic Republic of Iran in its security services and political institutions.
ADDRESSING IRAN’S ENRICHMENT OF URANIUM.
The Secretary of Defense, in coordination with the Director of National Intelligence, shall enhance monitoring and reporting requirements regarding the enrichment of uranium by the Islamic Republic of Iran and shall provide regular briefings to the appropriate congressional committees on developments related to Iran’s nuclear activities.
Source: “U.S.–Israel Security and Defense Cooperation in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026,” congress.gov, (December 17, 2025).
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