13 hrs ago
US Approves Potential $5 Billion Arms Sale to Saudi Arabia
The United States has approved a possible sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia.
The proposed package is worth about $5 billion.
It includes bombs and kits that help guide bombs more accurately.
It also includes parts, equipment and technical support.
US officials say the weapons could help Saudi Arabia protect its territory and important facilities.
They also say the sale could improve cooperation between Saudi forces and US forces.
The approval comes during increased tensions and security concerns in the Gulf region.
Separately, the United States and Saudi Arabia recently agreed to cooperate on peaceful nuclear energy.
The United States approved a possible $5 billion Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia.
The proposed package includes more than 10,000 JDAM guidance kits and 10,004 general-purpose bombs.
The sale also covers fuzes, target detectors, containers, spare parts, support equipment and technical services.
The United States says the weapons would strengthen Saudi Arabia’s defenses and interoperability with regional partners.
Boeing would be the principal contractor, while the transaction is not expected to affect US defense readiness or the regional military balance.
- Who
- The United States and Saudi Arabia, with Boeing identified as the principal contractor.
- What
- The United States approved a possible $5 billion sale of bombs, JDAM guidance kits and related equipment and services.
- Where
- The proposed sale concerns Saudi Arabia and security in the Gulf region; Boeing is based in Virginia.
- When
- The approval was announced on Friday, according to the article; the nuclear cooperation agreements were signed more than a month earlier.
- Why
- The United States says the sale would strengthen Saudi Arabia’s homeland and airborne defenses, address regional threats and improve interoperability with US and Gulf partner forces.
Key facts
- Estimated value
- Approximately $5 billion
- JDAM guidance kits
- 5,004 KMU-572 kits and 5,000 KMU-556 kits
- General-purpose bombs
- 5,004 BLU-111 500-pound bombs and 5,000 BLU-117 2,000-pound bombs
- Additional equipment
- FMU-139 fuzes, DSU-38 and DSU-40 target detectors, containers, spare parts and support equipment
- Principal contractor
- Boeing
- US assessment
- The sale would not alter the regional military balance or adversely affect US defense readiness
- Related cooperation
- The United States and Saudi Arabia recently signed agreements covering peaceful nuclear cooperation and bilateral safeguards
Quotes
US State Department
US department that issued the congressional notification on the proposed arms sale
“The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia’s airborne defense capability to counter current and future regional threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and improve interoperability with systems operated by U.S. forces and other Gulf Region partners.”
republicworld.com
Chris Wright
US Secretary of Energy who signed the peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement with Saudi Arabia
“These agreements reflect our two nations' shared commitment to strengthening U.S.-Saudi commercial relations, delivering prosperity at home and security to our allies abroad.”
republicworld.com
Sources
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