Saudi Arabia cleared to buy over 1,000 TOW missiles by US State Department

The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of TOW 2A and TOW 2B Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wireless-guided missiles, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 24 October 2024.

The proposed sale, which is worth an estimated USD 440 million (EUR 406.6 million), has been passed to the US Congress for final approval.

Saudi Arabia has requested to buy 507 TOW 2A radio frequency (RF) (BGM-71E-4B-RF) missiles (including seven ‘fly-to-buy’ missiles) and 507 TOW 2B RF (BGM-71F-3-RF) missiles (including seven ‘fly-to-buy’ missiles). The following non-Major Defense Equipment is also included in the deal: support and test equipment; simulators; generators; integration and test support; spare and repair parts; communications equipment; software; facilities and construction support; publications and technical documentation; and various aspects of engineering, logistics, technical, training and programme support.

“The proposed sale will improve the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats by enhancing the strength of its homeland defense,” the DSCA stated.

The Saudi military is already an operator of the TOW missile system.

The principal contractor for the sale will be RTX Corporation’s Raytheon business out of its facilities in Tucson, Arizona.

The TOW weapon system originally entered the US Army inventory in 1970 as the Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided missile, but the system has been continuously upgraded and has been offered with wireless guidance since 2010.