US approves $7B in unannounced weapons for UAE during Iran war — Patriot PAC-3 missiles and CH-47 Chinooks

The Trump administration has approved approximately $7 billion in weapons for the United Arab Emirates that the State Department is not required to announce publicly under rules governing US arms exports, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday. The package expands previously agreed arms deals with the UAE. The unannounced deals include: - Patriot PAC-3 Missiles: approximately $5.6 billion - CH-47 Chinook helicopters: approximately $1.32 billion The sales were not announced publicly because they expanded previously agreed deals, US officials told the Journal. This follows more than $16.5 billion in arms sales to three unnamed Middle East countries that were publicly announced on Thursday (Day 20). The timing is significant: the UAE is actively under Iranian missile and drone attack (Habshan suspended, Burj Al Arab area hit by debris), and UAE air defences were responding to missile attacks again early Friday. Patriot PAC-3 systems directly address the IRGC ballistic missile threat. The Chinooks expand UAE airborne logistics and transport capacity. The deal reinforces the US-UAE strategic relationship amid Iranian pressure on Gulf energy infrastructure and against the backdrop of Iran's demand for compensation over US strikes launched from Emirati territory.