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The U.S. Department of State has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS-II) components and related support, with an estimated cost of $1.96 billion.
The proposed sale includes up to 10,000 APKWS-II air-to-air guidance sections and up to 10,000 APKWS-II air-to-ground guidance sections, along with associated launchers, warheads, rocket motors, fuses, spare and repair parts, technical documentation, training equipment, and logistics support services. The principal contractor will be BAE Systems, based in Nashua, New Hampshire.
"This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a Major non-NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf Region," the State Department stated.
The sale aims to enhance Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats while enabling precise engagement of targets with significantly reduced risk of collateral damage compared to unguided systems. Saudi Arabia is expected to have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces, and the proposed sale will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
Implementation of the sale will require a limited number of U.S. Government and contractor personnel for training and support activities in Saudi Arabia. There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this sale.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale.
This approval underscores the strong and enduring defense partnership between the United States and Saudi Arabia, contributing to regional security and stability amid ongoing security challenges in the Middle East.