The U.S. Department of State has approved Saudi Arabia’s proposed $100 million acquisition of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems II All-Up-Round and associated logistics and program support.
The potential sale covers the delivery of 2,000 of the laser-guided precision rockets and several non-major defense equipment items, including spare parts, support equipment and training support. BAE Systems will be the primary contractor for the foreign military sale transaction.
In a statement issued Thursday, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced that it had notified Congress of the potential sale, which it said aligns with the U.S. government’s foreign policy and national security objectives. The agency added that the deal does not have any direct impact on U.S. defense readiness and would not alter the Middle East’s basic military balance.
In January, Riyadh also gained approval from the State Department for its potential acquisition of RTX Integrated Defense Systems’s MK 54 MOD 0 lightweight torpedoes. The $78.5 million award includes 20 torpedoes, spare parts, and engineering, training and logistical support.
Ahmad Al-Ohali, governor of the General Authority for Military Industries, disclosed in February that Saudi Arabia had increased its defense budget for 2025. In a statement, the minister disclosed that the Saudi government allocated 21 percent of its overall budget to defense, totaling $78 billion.