A US government official said Washington had approved a potential $11.25 billion sale of four multi-mission warships to Saudi Arabia. Speaking anonymously on Tuesday, October 20, the source said the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency had notified Congress on Monday night. Lawmakers had 30 days to block the sale, although this rarely happened because deals underwent prior scrutiny.
A second informed source said approval allowed Riyadh and Washington to negotiate a formal contract for Lockheed Martin ships and related equipment. Negotiations were not expected to finish before year-end.
The sale was expected to include training, surveillance and sonar systems, ammunition, and guidance systems.
It would be the first agreement in years to export newly built US naval vessels and would enable closer cooperation between the US military and Gulf armed forces.
The deal formed part of a broader modernization of Saudi Arabia’s Eastern Fleet, replacing older US-built ships.