On Friday, September 4, 2026, the US Department of State announced approval of a potential foreign military sale valued at roughly five billion dollars to Saudi Arabia. The package comprises more than ten thousand Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits and general‑purpose bombs, aimed at bolstering the kingdom's airborne defence amid rising regional tensions.
Saudi officials have asked for 5,004 KMU-572 JDAM kits and 5,000 KMU-556 JDAM kits. In addition, the request includes 5,004 BLU-111 bombs weighing 500 pounds each and 5,000 BLU-117 bombs of 2,000 pounds. Supporting hardware such as FMU-139 fuze systems, DSU-38 and DSU-40 target detectors, containers, spare parts, consumables and related accessories are also part of the deal, together with engineering, technical and logistics assistance.
The State Department said the sale aligns with US foreign‑policy and national‑security goals, noting that Saudi Arabia is designated a Major Non‑NATO Ally. By upgrading the kingdom's precision‑strike capability, the equipment is expected to improve defence against current and future threats, strengthen homeland security and enhance interoperability with US forces and other Gulf partners.
According to the department, the transaction will not shift the regional military balance, nor will it affect US defence readiness. Boeing, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia, has been identified as the principal contractor. No offset agreement has been proposed yet; any such arrangement would be negotiated later between the contractor and Saudi Arabia.
The approval triggers the mandatory congressional review process, but the State Department confirmed that no additional US government or contractor personnel will be deployed to Saudi Arabia for the sale. The move comes as the kingdom endures a series of drone and missile attacks linked to the broader US‑Israel conflict with Iran, as Iranian forces and Yemen's Tehran‑backed Houthi rebels target Saudi territory.
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📰 Source: Siasat Gulf