$5.75 Billion in Defense Deals Approved for Saudi Arabia Amid Ongoing Iran Conflict
The US State Department has approved two separate weapons deals for Saudi Arabia worth $5.75 billion, which is one of the largest single US-Saudi defense transactions since the Iran conflict began.
The first deal, valued at $5 billion, includes the sale of Joint Direct Attack Munitions-Extended Range (JDAM-ER) precision bomb kits to Boeing, while the second deal, worth $750 million, involves the sale of 60 AGT-1500 tank engines used in M1 Abrams tanks from Honeywell.
The JDAM-ER is a significant capability addition for Saudi Arabia's air force, allowing its aircraft to release precision-guided bombs from greater distances than standard JDAM systems, reducing their exposure to enemy air defenses during strike missions.
The proposed sales will improve Saudi Arabia's capability to meet current and future regional threats while enhancing interoperability with US forces and other Gulf nations, the State Department stated.