WASHINGTON • The Pentagon is notifying Congress of a planned sale to Saudi Arabia of up to four of its new littoral combat Ships for US$11.25 billion (S$15.6 billion), according to a United States official, as the US works to bolster defences of its Gulf allies after the nuclear deal with Iran.
The State Department has approved the sale under the Foreign Military Sales programme, according to the official, who asked not to be identified in advance of an announcement.
The approval allows the Saudis to negotiate contracts for the ships unless Congress passes legislation to block the deal.
The ships are part of a planned modernisation, replacing older US-built vessels in the Royal Saudi Navy's Eastern Fleet.
The sale also begins to deliver on President Barack Obama's pledge to improve the military capabilities of America's Arab allies.
Saudi Arabia and other nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council sought such reassurances before acquiescing to the US-led deal with Iran on its nuclear programme.
The Saudis and other Sunni Arab nations were unnerved that, in exchange for curbing its nuclear programme, their Shi'ite rival Iran will win relief from crippling economic sanctions and access to billions of dollars in frozen funds.
Russia's military intervention in Syria alongside Iran to back President Bashar al-Assad has further raised sectarian tensions in the region.
US military aid to the Gulf nations is limited by legislation requiring that the US maintain Israel's qualitative military superiority over its Middle East neighbours, blocking the sale of cutting-edge weapons such as the F-35 fighter jet.
But the ships sold to the Saudis will be the first major export of a new, US-built surface naval vessel in years, the US official said.
The littoral combat ship, designed for operations in shallow coastal waters, is made in two versions by Lockheed Martin and Austal.
The Saudis have indicated they are interested in the Lockheed ship, according to previous reports, including by Defence News.
While the US navy has championed the new ship as an agile and adaptable vessel, the Pentagon's director of testing has questioned its ability to survive a potential enemy attack.
In addition, Republican Senator John McCain of Arizona, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has challenged the reliability of new underwater drones for the ship that are intended to hunt down naval mines from a safe distance.
Congress has 30 days to disapprove of the sale before it takes effect. It could be years, however, before a contract is actually signed.
The US is offering a version of the littoral combat ship called the "multi-mission surface combatant", which will be customised to Saudi requirements.
The planned sale includes potential purchases of engineering, logistical and training support for Saudi naval personnel; radar and sonar systems; munitions and fire-control systems.
BLOOMBERG
