The U.S. State Department has approved a possible $5 billion Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia for Joint Direct Attack Munition-Extended Range (JDAM-ER) systems, bombs, and related equipment, according to the announcement published on the official U.S. government website.


Saudi Arabia has requested 5,004 KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munition 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 would also include FMU-139 fuze systems; DSU-38 and DSU-40 target detectors; containers and support equipment; spare parts, consumables and accessories; repair and return support; U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.


The State Department said the proposed sale would advance U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives by strengthening the security of Saudi Arabia, described by Washington as a Major non-NATO Ally and a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf region.


The principal contractor would be Boeing, based in Arlington, Virginia.


The U.S. government said it was not currently aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with the potential sale. Any such agreement would be negotiated directly between Saudi Arabia and the contractor, according to the notification.


The proposed transaction still requires completion of the U.S. arms-sales process and does not represent a finalised transfer of the weapons. The estimated $5 billion value includes the equipment, support and other elements covered by the potential sale.


JDAM systems convert compatible conventional bombs into precision-guided munitions by adding guidance and control components. The KMU-572 and KMU-556 kits are designed for different bomb configurations; U.S. government procurement documentation identifies the KMU-572 as a JDAM tail kit for 500-pound-class BLU-111/MK-82 bombs and the KMU-556 as a JDAM tail kit.


By Tamilla Hasanova