The US administration has indefinitely suspended the sale of 10,000 aircraft bombs worth nearly $770 million to Riyadh in light of the decision to end support for the Saudi coalition’s combat operations in Yemen, Defense News reported Friday, citing a source
The likelihood of arms deliveries relating to the kingdom’s national defence remains open.
Two deals are currently frozen. The first concerns the provision of 3,000 GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb I (SDB I) aircraft bombs to Boeing at a total cost of $290 million. The contract was approved by the previous US administration in December and a corresponding notice was posted in January by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). The second deal involved the sale of 7,000 high-precision guided air bombs (Paveway IV) to Raytheon Technologies for $478 million.
According to the newspaper, Raytheon Technologies CEO Gregory Hayes told investors on January 26 that the company is refusing to sell the offensive weapons system “to an unnamed Middle Eastern buyer because it doubts that the new US administration will license it.” The newspaper admits that further arms sales to Saudi Arabia may be delayed or cancelled altogether as the current administration reviews deals made by its predecessors. According to the White House spokesman, the conclusion of arms contracts with Riyadh would return to the relevant traditional oversight process.