Israel secures procurement of 12 Apache gunships in last-minute maneuver

JERUSALEM — Israel is set to acquire 12 Apache “Echo” attack helicopters from Boeing, according to an Israeli ministry of defense announcement this week. The deal secures the advanced variant of the helicopter, with scheduled delivery at the beginning of the next decade. It follows months of uncertainty surrounding the deal’s viability, caused by the Israeli government’s inability to finalize the pact despite multiple offer extensions granted by the Americans. An agreement was previously stalled due to a dispute between the Israeli ministry of finance and the Israeli ministry of defense over…