US approves $5 billion bomb sale to Saudi Arabia amid Iran war tensions

"The U.S. Department of State has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the purchase of Joint Direct Attack Munitions – Extended Range (JDAM-ER) and related equipment," the US State Department said in a statement.

According to the Department, Saudi Arabia has requested to purchase 5,004 KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits, 5,000 KMU-556 JDAM guidance kits, 5,004 BLU-111 500-pound general-purpose bombs and 5,000 BLU-117 2,000-pound general-purpose bombs.

The proposed package will also include non-major defence equipment such as FMU-139 fuze systems, DSU-38 and DSU-40 target detectors, containers and support equipment, spare parts, consumables and accessories, as well as repair and return support.

It will further include US government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, along with other related elements of logistics and programme support.

The State Department said the proposed sale would support US foreign policy goals and national security objectives by improving the security of a major non-NATO ally that it described as a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region.

"The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia’s airborne defence capability to counter current and future regional threats, strengthen its homeland defence, and improve interoperability with systems operated by U.S. forces and other Gulf Region partners," the statement said.

"The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the military balance in the region," it added.

Saudi Arabia came under attack from Iranian drones and missiles during the recent conflict between the United States and Iran.