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The US State Department has approved a potential $1.96 billion weapons sale to Saudi Arabia aimed at bolstering the kingdom’s air defenses.
Getting into it: First announced Wednesday, the centerpiece of the deal is up to 20,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems, split between air-to-air and air-to-ground guidance sections, along with launchers, warheads, rocket motors, fuzes, training equipment, and logistics support. The kits turn unguided rockets into guided ones, giving Saudi Arabia a cheap way to swat down incoming threats without burning through its pricey Patriot missiles every time a wave of low-cost drones comes in. BAE Systems would be the principal contractor.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a Major non-NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf Region,” the State Department said, adding there would be “no adverse impact on US Defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.”
The sale lands as the ceasefire between the US and Iran has fallen apart, with Washington reimposing a naval blockade and ramping up strikes on Iran over the past week. Meanwhile, the kingdom looks close to reopening its war with the Iran-backed Houthis, who launched missiles Monday at an airport in Abha, a city in southern Saudi Arabia. That Houthi attack followed strikes on Sanaa airport that diverted a flight carrying their delegation home from the funeral of Iran’s supreme leader. The Houthis blamed those strikes on Riyadh.
Houthi leader Abdul-Malik al-Houthi has since warned that all Saudi oil and vital facilities would become targets if Riyadh joins what he called “comprehensive aggression” against Yemen.
This all comes as the State Department separately approved a possible $484 million sustainment package for Kuwait covering C-17 aircraft components, parts, support equipment, and related logistics and training services.
