Washington (US), September 5, 2026, BNN Web Staff: The United States has approved a potential $5 billion military sale to Saudi Arabia involving precision-guidance systems, bombs and related equipment, the US State Department said.
The proposed Foreign Military Sale includes thousands of Joint Direct Attack Munition-Extended Range (JDAM-ER) guidance kits, general-purpose bombs, fuzes, target-detection systems, containers, spare parts and associated technical and logistical support.
According to a congressional notification, Saudi Arabia has requested 5,004 KMU-572 JDAM guidance kits, 5,000 KMU-556 JDAM guidance kits, 5,004 BLU-111 500-pound bombs and 5,000 BLU-117 2,000-pound bombs.
The package would also cover FMU-139 fuze systems, DSU-38 and DSU-40 target detectors, support equipment, consumables, accessories and spare parts. US government personnel and contractors would provide engineering, technical and logistics assistance linked to the proposed deal.
US Cites Regional Security Concerns
The State Department said the proposed sale is intended to support US foreign policy and national security objectives by strengthening Saudi Arabia’s defence capabilities.
Washington said the equipment would help Saudi Arabia respond to existing and emerging regional threats, strengthen the defence of its territory and improve interoperability with US forces and other Gulf partners.
The department assessed that Saudi Arabia would be capable of integrating the systems into its armed forces and said the proposed transaction would not affect the existing military balance in the region.
Boeing, headquartered in Virginia, has been identified as the principal contractor for the potential deal. The US government said it was not aware of any proposed offset agreement associated with the transaction.
The notification further stated that the sale would not require additional US government or contractor personnel to be permanently assigned to Saudi Arabia and would not adversely affect US defence readiness.
Deal Comes Amid Heightened West Asia Tensions
The proposed arms package comes against the backdrop of heightened security tensions across West Asia, including conflict involving the US and Iran, attacks targeting Saudi Arabia and renewed activity by Yemen’s Houthi rebels.
The developments have increased concerns over the security of Gulf states and critical infrastructure, prompting Saudi Arabia to strengthen its ability to defend against potential air and missile threats.
US-Saudi Nuclear Cooperation
The latest defence proposal follows agreements signed by Washington and Riyadh establishing a framework for peaceful nuclear cooperation.
US Energy Secretary Chris Wright and Saudi Energy Minister Abdulaziz bin Salman signed a peaceful nuclear cooperation agreement, commonly known as a 123 Agreement, along with a bilateral safeguards agreement, according to the US Department of Energy.
The department said the agreements provide a legal framework for long-term cooperation in civil nuclear energy and are intended to support nuclear nonproliferation, safety and security.
The 123 Agreement is also expected to give US companies greater access to Saudi Arabia’s developing civilian nuclear energy programme while supporting American industry and supply chains.
Wright said the agreements reflected a shared US-Saudi commitment to expanding commercial ties and strengthening security cooperation while maintaining high standards for nuclear safety and nonproliferation.
The US Department of Energy has described the nuclear partnership as part of the Trump administration’s wider effort to expand American civil nuclear technology exports and strengthen the country’s position in the global nuclear energy market.
The potential $5 billion defence sale, together with the recent nuclear cooperation agreements, highlights the increasingly broad strategic relationship between Washington and Riyadh, covering defence, energy and civil nuclear cooperation amid growing instability in the region.
