RIYADH, July 21: The Bush administration has approved the sale of military arsenal worth more than $6 billion to Saudi Arabia. These include 724 armoured vehicles, 2,300 long-range military radio system and other equipment, besides 24 UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters.
Congress has 30 days to block the sale, although such action is rare. The Pentagon’s Defence Security Cooperation Agency said the principal contractors for the different sales included Sikorsky Aircraft, a unit of United Technologies Corp, General Electric Co, Harris Corp, ITT Corp, General Dynamics Corp, and Raytheon Corp.
The agency said in a mandatory notice to Congress that the arms sale would help strengthen Saudi Arabia’s military and its ability to help the United States fight terrorism around the world.
Saudi Arabia had sought 24 Sikorsky Black Hawk helicopters, spare parts, communications and other equipment valued at $350 million, according to the agency, which oversees foreign arms sales.
Sikorsky and GE would be the main contractors for the new helicopters, which would help Saudi Arabia modernise and increase its rotary wing fleet and respond more quickly to threats against its infrastructure.
A second deal, valued at $5.8 billion, would include 724 lightly armoured vehicles built by General Dynamics, based in Falls Church, Virginia.
