Proposed sale to improve KSA\u2019s capability to deter threats and improving interoperability with US: State Department
\n WASHINGTON
\nThe US State Department said on Wednesday it has approved the sale of an estimated $1.96 billion in weapons to bolster Saudi Arabia\u2019s air defences, as the war ramps up in the Middle East. \u201cThis 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,\u201d the State Department said in a release.
\nAmong the weapons the Gulf kingdom seeks are up to 20,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems and their warheads, which the US Navy\u2019s website describes as \u201can inexpensive way to destroy targets while limiting collateral damage in close combat.\u201d The principal contractor will be BAE Systems in Nashua, New Jersey, the department said.
\n\u201cThe proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia\u2019s capability to deter current and future threats by strengthening its homeland defence, and improving interoperability with US forces, and other regional and Nato forces,\u201d the release said. The move comes as Saudi Arabia appears to be on the brink of renewed war with Yemen\u2019s Iran-backed Houthis after they fired missiles at an airport in the southern Saudi city of Abha on Monday.
\nThe Houthi attack came after the Yemeni government hit Sanaa airport to divert a flight returning from the Iranian supreme leader\u2019s funeral with a Houthi delegation on board. The Houthis blamed Riyadh for the attack. The move also comes amid the United States ramping up waves of attacks on Iran, after reimposing a naval blockade as the foes return to war. \u201cThere will be no adverse impact on US Defence readiness as a result of this proposed sale,\u201d the release said. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Proposed sale to improve KSA\u2019s capability to deter threats and improving interoperability with US: State Department WASHINGTON The US State Department said on Wednesday it has approved the sale of an estimated $1.96 billion in weapons to bolster Saudi Arabia\u2019s air defences, as the war ramps up in the Middle East. \u201cThis proposed sale will […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":556707,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-556681","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-world"],"yoast_head":"\n