Pentagon details bomb-guidance kit sale to Saudis
WASHINGTON, Jan 15 (Reuters) - The Pentagon on Tuesday released details of the Bush administration's proposed $123 million sale of Boeing Co (BA.N) bomb-guidance kits to Saudi Arabia, a deal that faces some resistance in the U.S. Congress.
The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said the sale of 900 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) kits would improve the accuracy of Saudi bombs and help its F-15 fighter jets better participate in coalition operations.
"The proposed sale of JDAMs for use on RSAF F-15S aircraft will enhance training opportunities; increase RSAF F-15 operational capability, sustainability, and interoperability with USAF, Gulf Cooperation Council, and other coalition air forces," said the agency, which oversees foreign arms sales.
The sale brings to $11.5 billion the value of arms sales already announced for the Gulf states as part of a U.S. drive to counter growing Iranian military clout.
State Department and White House officials announced the proposed sale on Monday, saying they had worked closely with Israel, lawmakers and the Saudi government to assuage concerns that the bomb-guidance kits could threaten Israel.
Administration officials said they believed they had sufficient congressional support for the deal, but some U.S. lawmakers immediately said they would try to block the sale of the sophisticated weaponry.
The bomb-guidance kits turn unguided bombs into precision munitions with built-in satellite and motion-sensing navigation systems. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal-Esa; editing by John Wallace)
