U.S.-Israel Defense Partnership Act: Billions for Joint Military Tech, Anti-Tunnel Systems, and Regional Defense

The "United States-Israel Defense Partnership Act of 2025" isn't just tweaking existing agreements – it's significantly boosting defense cooperation between the U.S. and Israel. This bill focuses on developing new technologies, sharing information, and pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into joint projects. It also extends the War Reserves Stockpile authority until after January 1, 2029. (SEC. 7)

Countering Drones and Tunnels: A Shared Mission

This Act creates a formal "United States-Israel Counter-Unmanned Systems Program." (SEC. 3) Think drones, but also any unmanned system that poses a threat. This means joint research, training, and even setting up a dedicated office within the Department of Defense. The price tag? $150 million per year from 2026 through 2030. (SEC. 3) That's on top of increased funding – up to $80 million – for the existing anti-tunnel cooperation program, now extended to 2028. (SEC. 4) Imagine a construction worker dealing with increasingly sophisticated underground threats – this funding aims to provide better tools and training for that kind of scenario. Similarly, funding to counter aerial unmanned systems jumps to $75 million, also extended to 2028. (SEC. 5)

Beyond Hardware: The Tech Frontier

The bill also pushes for collaboration on "emerging technology capabilities." (SEC. 6) We're talking AI, cybersecurity, robotics – the cutting edge of defense tech. This allows the Secretary of Defense to team up with Israel on research and development, provided they get the green light from the State Department and the Director of National Intelligence. There's another $50 million a year authorized for this, from 2026 to 2030. (SEC. 6) A key requirement? A detailed agreement on how costs are shared and how intellectual property rights are handled. The Irregular Warfare Technology Support Directorate will be the point agency within the Department of Defense. (SEC. 6)

Eyes on the Region, and on Iran

A significant part of this bill focuses on the broader Middle East. The Secretary of Defense has to assess the "integrated air and missile defense" in the U.S. Central Command region – basically, how well are countries working together to defend against aerial threats? (SEC. 10) This assessment needs to consider lessons learned from recent Iranian airstrikes against Israel. The report is due to Congress within 180 days of the Act's passage. (SEC. 10)

Furthermore, a Defense Innovation Unit office will be established in Israel within 180 days. Its mission: to work with the Israeli Ministry of Defense and private sector to prevent Iran from developing "dual-use defense technologies" – technologies that could have both civilian and military applications. (SEC. 8) The bill also directs the Secretary of Defense to discuss with Israel's Minister of Defense Israel's potential inclusion in the national technology and industrial base within 90 days of this law's enactment. (SEC. 9)

The Bottom Line

This Act represents a major commitment to strengthening the U.S.-Israel defense partnership, with significant financial implications and a broad scope covering everything from physical threats like tunnels and drones to the complex world of emerging technologies. It also places a clear focus on regional security and specifically calls out the need to counter Iranian technological advancements.