US Approves $15 Billion THAAD Sale to Saudi Arabia to Counter Iranian Missile Threats

The US State Department has approved an estimated $15 billion Sale to Saudi Arabia for Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and related equipment and services for an estimated cost of $15 billion.

THAAD’s exo-atmospheric, hit-to-kill capability will add an upper-tier to Saudi Arabia’s layered missile defense architecture and will support modernization of the Royal Saudi Air Defense Force (RSADF).

The Government of Saudi Arabia has requested a possible sale of forty-four (44) Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) launchers, three hundred sixty (360) THAAD Interceptor Missiles, sixteen (16) THAAD Fire Control and Communications Mobile Tactical Station Group, seven (7) AN/TPY-2 THAAD radars.

This sale furthers U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, and supports the long-term security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region in the face of Iranian and other regional threats.

This potential sale will substantially increase Saudi Arabia’s capability to defend itself against the growing ballistic missile threat in the region.

The principal contractors for the THAAD system are Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Raytheon.  There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Also included are THAAD Battery maintenance equipment, forty-three (43) prime movers (trucks), generators, electrical power units, trailers, communications equipment, tools, test and maintenance equipment, repair and return, system integration and checkout, spare/repair parts, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor technical and logistics personnel support services, facilities construction, studies, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated cost is $15 billion.

The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale Friday.