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US approves potential military sale worth almost $2.8bn to Saudi Arabia

July 24, 2024 at 4:21 pm

Department of Defense logo is seen ahead of a press conference at the Pentagon in Washington D.C., United States on August 15, 2023 [Celal Güneş/Anadolu Agency]

The United States has approved a potential major sale of $2.8 billion worth of military equipment to Saudi Arabia, as Washington continues to serve as one of the key arms suppliers to the kingdom.

In a statement, the US State Department’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency announced yesterday the major potential sale that “will improve the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s capability to deter current and future threats by providing sustainment and training support of the Royal Saudi Air Force’s existing platforms and aircraft fleets.”

Stating that the sale would also support the US’s national security objectives and foreign policy goals in the region, the agency highlighted that the military equipment in question covers system logistics and sustainment support. It added that it has already delivered the required certification notifying US Congress of the potential sale, worth $2.8 billion.

According to the statement, Saudi Arabia “requested to buy follow-on logistics support and services, including for Joint Mission Planning Software (JMPS) hardware and support; KIV-77/78 cryptographic devices and support; spares and repair parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; calibration support and test equipment; ground and personnel equipment; classified and unclassified software and software support, classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support, in support of, but not limited to, KC-130J, C-130, E-3, RE-3, KE-3, KA 350, Bell 212, and Bell 412 aircraft.”

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