U.S. Approves $9 Billion Sale of Patriot Missiles to Saudi Arabia
Washington, The Gulf Observer: The U.S. Department of Defense announced that the U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of Patriot interceptor missiles and related military equipment to Saudi Arabia, with an estimated value of around $9 billion.
According to a Pentagon statement, Lockheed Martin Corp. will serve as the principal contractor for the sale of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (PAC-3 MSE) missiles. The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency has formally notified Congress of the decision.
The approval comes in response to Saudi Arabia’s request to purchase 730 PAC-3 MSE missiles. The statement emphasized that the proposed sale will not alter the military balance in the Middle East nor negatively affect the United States’ defense readiness.
