The US State Department has approved a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Saudi Arabia of Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS) II all-up rounds, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced on 20 March 2025.
The proposed sale, which is worth an estimated USD 100 million (EUR 92.65 million), has been passed to the US Congress for final approval.
Saudi Arabia has requested to buy 2,000 APKWS II rounds, along with spares, support equipment and related elements of training, engineering, logistics and programme support.
“The proposed sale will improve the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats and give it the ability to precisely engage targets with much less risk of collateral damage than other guided missile systems,” the DSCA stated.
APKWS II rounds constitute Hydra 2.75-inch (70 mm) unguided rockets that have been turned into precision-guided munitions with the addition of a laser guidance kit. They are typically used to arm attack helicopters such as the AH-64D/E Apaches operated by the Royal Saudi Land Forces and Saudi Arabian National Guard.
The principal contractor for the FMS will be BAE Systems out of its facilities in Falls Church, Virginia.
