US clears $5B in JDAMs for Saudi Arabia, other Middle East deals

WASHINGTON — The United States Department of State today cleared multiple arms initiatives for pivotal Middle East partners, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Iraq, amounting to roughly $6.1 billion in equipment provisions.

The most significant approval concerns Riyadh’ acquisition of just over ten thousand kits of the extended-range Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM), valued at $5 billion. This arrangement includes a comparable quantity of conventional bombing munitions split nearly evenly between 500‑lb. and 2,000‑lb. warheads—each made usable as precision strikes when paired with JDAM guidance. Boeing provides the JDAM systems.

Saudi Arabia”s push to stockpile JDAM capabilities emerges against the backdrop of intense aerial combat in the Yemeni theater, ongoing skirmishes with Iran that have exhausted inventories of essential precision-guided weapons, according to a recent assessment by the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Though frequently viewed as a more affordable option relative to sophisticated alternatives, Boeing previously stated its extended-range variant reaches distances exceeding forty‑five miles, mandating launches from locations situated closer to target areas.

The State Department later reviewed a second potential contract for Riyadh that would cover sixty AGT‑1500 diesel engine installations powering M1 Abrams main battle tanks. Valued at $750 million, the venture lists Honeywell as the primary contractor.

Separately, the Department confirmed acquisition authority for Oman worth $188 million toward sustaining its fleets of F‑16 fighter jets. While Lockheed Martin responsible for manufacturing the aircraft and overseeing core sustainment functions, the department explicitly indicates no single prime contractor oversees the transaction. Instead, support will originate from U.S. governmental sources or third‑party vendors chosen to meet evolving operational requirements.

In the context where Oman has served as a regional mediator in ongoing conflicts, President Trump recently directed threats aimed at striking the Gulf emirate.

Most recently, Washington gave blessing to Iraq for procuring Bell 412EPX helicopters estimated at $150 million, with Bell‑Textron identified as the lead supplier.

This announcement complements a Monday issuance from the State Department permitting $800 million in helicopter acquisitions for Baghdad, including the Bell 412EPX and 407M models. A department liaison declined to elaborate further on either set of proposals.

Every transaction disclosed herein originates from a congressional notification process, representing preliminary authorizations. Supplier allocations and financial figures may adjust during subsequent negotiation phases. These notices simultaneously create opportunities for legislative representatives to oppose individual deals within a thirty‑day window, although enacted opposition presents considerable improbability.

Source link