The U.S. government plans to send a shipment of bombs worth over $750 million to Saudi Arabia in the coming months. The shipment includes 3,000 GBU-39 small-diameter bombs and 7,500 Paveway IV bombs. This move ends the Biden administration's policy of halting offensive weapon supplies to Saudi Arabia due to its military actions in Yemen since 2021.
The GBU-39 small-diameter bomb is a 110-kilogram precision-guided weapon capable of executing long-range precision strikes in urban environments. Its compact design allows aircraft to carry more bombs, enabling them to target more objectives in a single mission. These 3,000 bombs are valued at approximately $290 million.
The Paveway IV bomb is a high-precision GPS or laser-guided munition capable of striking targets from distances over 30 kilometers. Its total value is around $468 million.
A U.S. State Department official stated, "These bombs are indispensable for modern air forces." This statement highlighted America's intention to strengthen military cooperation with Saudi Arabia.
Analysts noted that the shipment of these bombs reflects the White House's efforts to bolster relations with Saudi Arabia during a sensitive period in the Middle East. The Biden administration is currently drafting a new defense treaty with Saudi Arabia and discussing the provision of civilian nuclear energy assistance.
At the same time, the U.S. hopes Saudi Arabia will play a key role in brokering a ceasefire in the Gaza conflict and is attempting to facilitate a diplomatic recognition agreement between Israel and Saudi Arabia. The delivery of these weapons will further enhance the precision strike capabilities of the Saudi Air Force and pave the way for more arms deals in the future.
Since the Biden administration halted offensive weapon sales to Saudi Arabia, the kingdom has been pressuring for the resumption of military sales. A senior U.S. State Department official confirmed that the Biden administration has decided to lift this ban, indicating a shift in U.S. policy towards Saudi Arabia.
U.S. officials reveal that the shipment might start in the coming months. However, besides these two batches of bombs, no other weapon shipment plans have been publicly announced.
