The US State Department has approved three possible military sales for Egypt, Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates at a combined cost estimated at around $2.27 billion.
The largest of all three is a possible sale to the United Arab Emirates of the instruction sections of the Precipated Killer Weapons System – II and relevant equipment at an estimated cost of $1.041 billion, the department said in a statement.
The United Arab Emirates have sought to buy up to ten thousand guiding sections of the Advanced 2 Precization Guns System, which consists of a combination of air and air-earth configurations, she added.
For Egypt, the department approved a possible sale of Yavelin missile systems at an estimated cost of $832 million.
According to the announcement, Cairo has sought to buy up to 2,020 Yavelin FGM 48F missiles, including 20 flying missiles for purchase, and as many as 200 Lechta Yavelin’s Comando Union.
For Kuwait, it approved a possible sale of the restoration and return of Patriot missiles and relevant equipment at an estimated cost of $400m.
The sale comes more than seven months after the start of the Iran war, which began on 28 February when the US and Israel launched co-ordinated attacks on Iran.
Iran retaliated with attacks on US bases in Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
The US and Iran signed a framework agreement in June outlining the immediate steps to restore freedom of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz and address Iran’s nuclear programme, but it expired in August without a final agreement. /Telegraphy/