US approves $5 billion sale of bombs to Saudi Arabia to enhance security of 'major non-NATO ally'

The United States has approved a possible $5 billion sale of bombs, guidance kits and related equipment to Saudi Arabia, in a deal aimed at bolstering the kingdom's ability to defend itself against regional threats.

The US State Department said the proposed Foreign Military Sale includes 5,004 KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits, 5,000 KMU-556 JDAM guidance kits, 5,004 BLU-111 500-pound general-purpose bombs and 5,000 BLU-117 2,000-pound general-purpose bombs.

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The package will also include fuze systems, target detectors, containers and support equipment, spare parts and other logistics support, along with engineering and technical assistance from the US government and contractors.

The State Department said the sale would strengthen Saudi Arabia's airborne defence capabilities, enhance homeland defence and improve interoperability between Saudi forces and systems operated by US forces and other Gulf partners.

The sale will also "support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a Major non-NATO Ally," the department said.

According to the department, the proposed sale would not alter the military balance in the region and would have no adverse impact on US defence readiness.

Boeing, based in Arlington, Virginia, will be the principal contractor for the proposed deal. The US government said it was not currently aware of any offset agreement linked to the sale, with any such arrangement to be determined during negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the contractor.

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The proposed sale does not require any additional US government or contractor personnel to be assigned to Saudi Arabia.

The State Department has made the determination approving the possible sale, which is subject to the applicable US arms-transfer process.

Saudi Arabia has been targeted with drone and missile strikes by Iranian forces and Yemen's Tehran-backed Houthi rebels since the US and Israel launched their war against Iran earlier this year.