KSA and USA
During President Donald Trump’s visit to Riyadh, the U.S. and Saudi Arabia signed a $142 billion defense sales agreement. The White House called it the biggest defense cooperation deal in American history. It signals a deepening strategic alliance aimed at strengthening Saudi Arabia’s military and countering regional threats.
The agreement focuses on improving Riyadh’s air, missile, and naval defenses. It is part of a larger $600 billion Saudi investment pledge to the U.S. economy. The deal includes advanced weapons, training programs, and logistical support. It was formalized at the Royal Court in Riyadh during a high-profile ceremony.
President Trump shook hands with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to mark the signing. The White House said the agreement would give Saudi Arabia cutting-edge military capabilities. It aims to help the kingdom counter threats from Iran and its regional allies. This includes the Houthi rebels operating in Yemen.
U.S. defense companies
The package involves contracts with over a dozen U.S. defense companies. Major firms include Lockheed Martin, Boeing, Raytheon, Northrop Grumman, and General Atomics. The deal covers air and missile defense, space technology, and naval security. It also includes coastal security systems and military modernization projects.
To guarantee that Saudi forces can operate the new systems efficiently, the agreement also includes comprehensive training and support services. According to the White House, “This agreement strengthens our defense industry, enhances our strategic partnership, and promotes stability in the Gulf region.”
The agreement revolves around the sale of General Atomics’ MQ-9B SeaGuardian unmanned aerial systems, valued at approximately $20 billion. The MQ-9B SeaGuardian, a maritime-focused version of the Reaper drone, serves precision strikes and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions.
The SeaGuardian can carry up to 5,600 pounds of payload, including sophisticated sensors and munitions, and has a wingspan of 79 feet with a maximum endurance of more than 30 hours.
Weapons Procured
While electro-optical and infrared sensors provide high-resolution imagery for targeting, its synthetic aperture radar and maritime patrol radar enable it to detect surface vessels across large ocean areas. The drone is perfect for monitoring the Persian Gulf, where Saudi Arabia is threatened by Iranian naval forces and Houthi drone attacks, because it can fly up to 40,000 feet.
The SeaGuardian offers greater endurance and sensor integration than Iran’s inexpensive but less sophisticated Shahed-136 drones, which could provide Saudi forces with a major advantage in identifying and eliminating asymmetric threats.
Although the system’s reliance on satellite communications may present vulnerabilities in contested environments, its compatibility with Hellfire missiles further improves its strike capabilities.
The agreement also includes improvements to Saudi Arabia’s missile and air defense systems, particularly the Patriot PAC-3 and the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense [THAAD] system, which are both manufactured by Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.
The THAAD interceptor uses physical force to destroy targets, allowing it to stop short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles as they come down. With six launchers, 48 interceptors, a radar, and a fire control unit, each THAAD battery can defend a large area from threats like Iran’s Fateh-110 missiles, which Houthi forces have used.
Patriot PAC-3
An upgrade of the Patriot system, the Patriot PAC-3 uses sophisticated radar and interceptors to thwart aircraft, cruise missiles, and tactical ballistic missiles. When combined with THAAD, its phased-array radar provides a layered defense, tracking up to 100 targets at once.
Saudi Arabia’s current Patriot systems have successfully intercepted Houthi drones and missiles during combat, despite challenges in maintaining high interception rates due to the volume and unpredictability of attacks.
The new systems aim to close these gaps, though integrating them with Saudi Arabia’s aging air defense network may require major command-and-control upgrades. Lockheed Martin also included the C-130J Super Hercules transport plane—designed for desert operations and logistical support—as a key component of the deal.
A modernized version of the classic C-130, the C-130J has a 2,000-mile range and can carry up to 90 troops or 44,000 pounds of cargo. It is ideal for Saudi Arabia’s vast desert terrain, where quick troop and equipment deployment is essential, because it can operate from short, ill-prepared runways.
The aircraft’s sophisticated avionics, featuring improved navigation systems and digital displays, enhance reliability in challenging conditions.
C-130J’s
Saudi Arabia has carried out humanitarian missions and airlifted supplies in Yemen using previous C-130 models, but the C-130J’s increased payload capacity and fuel efficiency will improve these operations.
In line with Saudi Arabia’s desire for Western-aligned systems, the C-130J provides superior short-field performance and interoperability with NATO-standard equipment when compared to Russia’s Il-76, a similar transport utilized by some Middle Eastern countries.
Despite speculation, the announcement did not confirm the inclusion of F-35 stealth fighters. Lockheed Martin created the fifth-generation multirole fighter, the F-35, which boasts sophisticated stealth, sensor fusion, and network-enabled capabilities.
The F-35’s low-observable design reduces its radar cross-section, making it harder for enemy systems to detect. Moreover, its AN/APG-81 radar and infrared sensors allow pilots to track and engage distant targets with precision.
Saudi Arabia wants the F-35 to counter Iran’s growing air force and match Israel’s advanced capabilities. However, the U.S. has restricted F-35 exports to protect sensitive technology and uphold Israel’s military edge.
Instead, Washington agreed to help Saudi Arabia upgrade its F-15s and Typhoons, which lack the F-35’s stealth edge. This compromise shows how the U.S. carefully balances support for Gulf allies with regional stability concerns.
Yemen Conflict
At the same time, Saudi Arabia faces ongoing military challenges, particularly in Yemen’s prolonged conflict. Since 2015, Saudi forces have launched thousands of airstrikes using mostly American-supplied aircraft and munitions.
Nevertheless, Houthi drones and missiles—often using Iranian tech—have repeatedly penetrated Saudi air defenses. These attacks have targeted key military sites and vital oil infrastructure, exposing major vulnerabilities.
Notably, Iran-backed strikes on Abqaiq and Khurais oil plants in 2019 disrupted 5% of global oil supply. That single event underscored why Saudi Arabia urgently needs more effective and integrated missile defense systems.
Although the effectiveness of these systems depends on improved training and coordination among Saudi forces, THAAD and the SeaGuardian in particular should enhance Saudi Arabia’s ability to identify and intercept such threats.
Since President Franklin D. Roosevelt and King Abdulaziz Al Saud first met in 1945, the United States and Saudi Arabia have maintained a strong defense partnership.
Soviet influence
To combat Soviet influence in the region, the United States provided Saudi Arabia with AWACS aircraft and F-15 fighters during the Cold War. The United States announced a $110 billion arms deal with Saudi Arabia in 2017, during Trump’s first term. The deal was part of a 10-year, $350 billion framework.
Many contracts were still in the planning stages of that agreement, which drew criticism for its sluggish implementation. The current agreement, despite its perceived tangible nature, builds upon previous efforts and faces the same level of scrutiny.
Legislators have expressed concerns about Saudi Arabia’s human rights record and its involvement in Yemen’s humanitarian crisis, and congressional approval is necessary. In a related announcement earlier this month, the U.S.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency confirmed the sale will support U.S. foreign policy and strengthen national security goals. It referred specifically to a smaller $3.5 billion missile deal, but the broader strategy remains clear and deliberate.
Saudi Arabia committed to a $600 billion investment package, including $142 billion for advanced U.S. military technology. Saudi state media said the investment aims to reduce the kingdom’s oil dependency through Vision 2030 reforms.
Speaking in Riyadh, Trump called the arms deal a key part of his “America First” strategy. He told the Saudi-American investment forum that the deal would create U.S. jobs and boost long-term economic ties.
America’s energy security
The White House added that the agreements enhance America’s energy security, tech leadership, and global infrastructure access. Executives like NEOM’s Rayan Fayez and Aramco’s Amin Nasser attended, showing the deal’s economic importance.
Tensions with Iran have already escalated, as Tehran ramps up missile and drone production under Western sanctions. Iran’s Fateh-110 and Qiam-1 missiles can strike Saudi targets with ranges reaching 500 miles.
Iranian-backed groups like the Houthis have also grown more skilled in launching asymmetric attacks across the region. To counter this, the U.S. will equip Saudi Arabia with systems that connect to a regional missile defense network.
These defenses will link with American and allied forces, creating stronger protection across the Gulf. However, the deal could trigger an arms race if Iran seeks to match Saudi firepower with help from China or Russia.
THAAD and Patriot have better interception rates than China’s HQ-9 air defense system, which Iran has investigated. However, they are pricier and require more maintenance, which could put a strain on Saudi Arabia’s defense budget.
The agreement also negotiates intricate regional U.S. alliances. Because it fears losing its military advantage, Israel, a crucial ally, has voiced concerns about the sale of sophisticated weapons to Arab nations.
Trump’s 2020 Abraham Accords
Trump’s 2020 Abraham Accords normalized relations between Israel and several Gulf states, but Saudi Arabia has made normalization contingent on the establishment of a Palestinian state, a goal made more difficult by the ongoing war in Gaza.
Trump said he hoped Saudi Arabia would sign the accords, but experts don’t think this will happen anytime soon. According to Reuters, which cited the kingdom’s position on a two-state solution, “The war in Gaza denies him one goal he craves: Saudi-Israel normalization.”
Although there are still obstacles to overcome, the agreement is a step in the right direction for Saudi Arabia’s military independence.
The kingdom’s military forces, which mainly depend on American contractors, have had trouble maintaining and integrating sophisticated systems. The agreement’s training programs aim to address this issue, expecting U.S. personnel to assist in integrating the new platforms.
However, Saudi Arabia will need to introduce changes to its military doctrine and education, where progress has been uneven, to be able to absorb such a large influx of technology.
For example, operations in Yemen could be streamlined by the logistical capabilities of the C-130J, but only if Saudi crews are properly trained to take advantage of its full potential.
China’s expanding influence
The United States asserts that the agreement strengthens its strategic foothold in the Gulf, thereby countering China’s expanding influence. Washington feared losing a key ally after Saudi Arabia previously showed interest in Chinese weapons like the DF-21 ballistic missile.
The agreement limits Saudi Arabia’s strategic autonomy while improving interoperability with U.S. forces by securing its continued reliance on American systems and supply chains.
This supports the Pentagon’s integrated deterrence strategy, which aims to increase U.S. power projection through allied capabilities. However, Congressional approval and Saudi Arabia’s capacity to convert investments into operational gains are critical to the deal’s long-term viability.
Conclusion
This historic agreement’s impact goes far beyond profits for defense contractors. Advanced weapons could transform the Middle East’s security balance. They give Riyadh stronger defenses against Iran but raise risks in a volatile region. Systems like the MQ-9B SeaGuardian and THAAD are highly advanced.
Their success will depend on Saudi Arabia’s ability to use them effectively. The deal cements America’s role as the Gulf’s main arms supplier. It also tests Washington’s skill in managing alliances and avoiding escalation.
References
- Reuters: reut.rs/3KzXoHe
- New York Post: bit.ly/3W3QUpm
- The Sun: bit.ly/3W3HVAF
- Times of India: bit.ly/3KzYw9e
- White House Fact Sheet: bit.ly/3KzeK1g
- Al Jazeera: bit.ly/3KvD0VJ
- The Guardian: bit.ly/45mZoUQ
- Time: bit.ly/4cZpy7Q
- Jerusalem Post: bit.ly/45vz1Tc
- Economic Times: bit.ly/4bwKcKk
- Politico: bit.ly/3W6Fg6Y
- Barron’s: bit.ly/3Kw1f4e
- Responsible Statecraft: bit.ly/3W1fAmY
- LiveMint: bit.ly/3W8I8aF
- Wikipedia—US–Saudi Relations: bit.ly/3QeUmyi
- Wikipedia—Trump 2025 Visit: bit.ly/4cUNggb
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