The Defense Security Cooperation Agency cleared potential foreign military sales worth up to $1.45 billion — roughly $1 billion for Saudi helicopter spares, logistics and U.S. Army‑led training on AH‑64E, CH‑47F, UH‑72A and UH‑60 platforms, plus $445 million for Bahrain F‑16 sustainment. The approvals come as Riyadh pursues F‑35 talks with Washington.
Discovered |
Briefing
The package includes roughly $1 billion in sustainment, spares and U.S.‑led training for Saudi rotary wings and $445 million for Bahrain F‑16 sustainment, a direct investment in regional fleet readiness and logistics capacity — part of a wider trend of large sustainment awards (Pratt & Whitney $1.2B F100 sustainment).
These clearances advance U.S. defense cooperation with Saudi Arabia at a sensitive moment, coming alongside ongoing F‑35 sale talks and related strategic agreements, which have implications for regional balances and partner interoperability.
The approvals arrive amid formal warnings about technology security and targeting risk, underscoring export‑control and force‑protection considerations for any advanced fighter transfers (Pentagon warning on China targeting F‑35 technology).
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FlightGlobal
• Greg Waldron