WASHINGTON: The US State Department has approved the possible sale to Saudi Arabia of $5.4bn in additional PAC-3 missiles built by Lockheed Martin Corp, the Pentagon said late on Wednesday.
The Defence Security Cooperation Agency said the sale would benefit a key US partner in the Middle East. Notification to Congress was sent on Tuesday and follows a major nuclear deal with Iran. The missile sale approval could help reassure Saudi Arabia about the US commitment to its security.
“Lockheed Martin is supporting the US government and the kingdom of Saudi Arabia as they discuss the potential sale of additional PAC-3 Missiles as part of the upgrade of the Royal Saudi Air Defence Force,” Lockheed said in a statement.
The company said the PAC-3 missile defends against incoming aircraft and missiles, and it is currently used by the United States, the Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Taiwan and the UAE.
The State Department also approved a possible sale to Saudi Arabia of $500m worth of ammunition. A State Department spokesman said that proposed sale would resupply the Royal Saudi Land Forces to continue protecting the country’s southern border from attacks by militia groups.
Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia and Egypt signed a pact in Cairo aimed at boosting military and economic ties between the two Arab allies.
A Saudi delegation led by Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman visited Cairo yesterday and signed the “Cairo Declaration”, also attending a military parade with President Abdel Fattah Al Sisi.
“The two sides stressed the need to exert all efforts to boost security and stability in the region, and to work together to protect Arab national security,” Sisi’s office said after the signing.
Egypt has backed Riyadh’s air campaign against Shia rebels in Yemen, regularly saying it shares a common vision with Riyadh on tackling the crisis there.
The new Cairo-Riyadh pact also backs building a new joint Arab military force to fight terrorism in the region. On August 27, Arab defence and foreign ministers are to gather in Cairo to discuss the modalities of the force.
Agencies
