Against the backdrop of ongoing budget battles between the Finance and Defense ministries, Israel has missed the last opportunity to order 12 Boeing-made Apache attack helicopters from the United States for the Air Force. The cost of acquiring these helicopters is approximately $1 billion, but for a third of that amount, $288 million, no budgetary source was found despite lengthy discussions held over the past year between the Defense and Finance ministries and the National Security Council (NSC) in the Prime Minister's Office. "Three times we received an extension from the Americans to resolve the issue, and even by the last deadline given to us, we did not meet it," a senior security official told Calcalist.