State Department approves $3 billion missile sale to Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia is hoping to buy 300 ballistic missiles, putting the cost for a single missile with its equipment at more than $10 million

By Madeleine Hubbard

The State Department has approved a potential sale of 300 ballistic missiles and related equipment to Saudi Arabia for $3.05 billion.

The possible sale comes after President Joe Biden visited the region last month.

The Defense Department's Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced approval of the potential sale of 300 PATRIOT MIM-104E Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical Ballistic missiles to Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.

The deal would also include tools and test equipment, testing programs, spare parts and "Quality Assurance Team support, as well as technical assistance from the U.S. government and contractors.

Including all of the extra support, a single missile costs over $10 million.

The State Department said in announcing the potential deal that its completion still would not "alter the basic military balance in the region.

The U.S. already has over $126 billion in active military sales to Saudi Arabia, making the kingdom one of the largest recipients of U.S. weaponry, according to the department.

House Democrats attempted to stop the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia ahead of Biden's trip there in July over human rights concerns.