The Defense Department has notified Congress of the possible foreign military sale of one C-17 transport and associated equipment and support services to the Kuwaiti air force under a deal with a total potential value of $693 million. “This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a major non-NATO ally which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East,” reads the Defense Security Cooperation Agency’s notice. Kuwait would be the third Middle East C-17 customer. C-17 maker Boeing has already delivered two C-17s to Qatar and is under contract to provide six to the UAE.
A provision in the fiscal 2025 defense policy bill will require the Defense Department to include the military occupational specialty of service members who die by suicide in its annual report on suicide deaths, though it remains to be seen how much data the department will actually disclose.