Saudi Arabia Splashing $1bn On Ammunition

Saudi Arabia is looking to buy more than $1 billion-worth of missiles and other munitions from firms in the United States.

As revealed in a series of press statements from the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) this week, the State Department has approved the potential sales of the weaponry to the Kingdom of Saudia Arabia.

Details of the planned sales include a contract valued at $655 million to purchase about 2,500 Hellfire II missiles from Lockheed Martin; a $139 million deal to buy 10,000 M456 series, 105mm, High Explosive Anti-Tank Tracer cartridges from a combination of U.S. Army stock and unspecified new procurement vendors; and a $251 million agreement to acquire 220 AIM-9X Block II Sidewinder Tactical Missiles from RTX.

The DSCA statements note the planned sales "will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that continues to be an important force for political and economic progress in the Middle East."

They further observe that Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing the equipment into its armed forces, and that the proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

• You can read further detail of the proposed sales on the DSCA website