The THAAD deal had been under discussion since December 2016
Riyadh signs deal for THAAD missile defense system
US State Department says $15 billion missile defense system deal aims to support long-term security of Saudi Arabia, Gulf region in face of growing ballistic missile threat from the Iranian regime, Iran-backed extremist groups.
Thursday 29/11/2018
The THAAD deal had been under discussion since December 2016
WASHINGTON - Saudi Arabia will buy Lockheed Martin's $15 billion missile defense system, a US Department of State spokesman said on Wednesday, after aggressive lobbying by the administration to close the deal that included a personal call between President Donald Trump and Saudi King Salman.
The State Department said the Saudis and US officials signed the letters of offer and acceptance documents on Monday, formalizing terms for Saudi's purchase of 44 Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) launchers, missiles and related equipment.
In recent weeks the Trump administration and the US defense industry worked to save the few actual deals in the much-touted $110 billion arms package for Saudi Arabia amid rising concerns about the role of the kingdom's leadership in the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, a prominent Saudi critic.
The THAAD deal had been under discussion since December 2016 and is now completed, the spokesperson said.
Trump and King Salman discussed in a late September phone call the THAAD missile defense system deal, a Saudi official told Reuters in October. The official said at that time that the deal could well be closed by the end of the year.
The State Department spokesman said the deal, first reported by CNBC, supports the "long-term security of Saudi Arabia and the Gulf region in the face of the growing ballistic missile threat from the Iranian regime and Iran-backed extremist groups."