This article is published in Aerospace Daily & Defense Report part of Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN), and is complimentary through Mar 15, 2026. For information on becoming an AWIN Member to access more content like this, click here.
The U.S. government has approved the potential foreign military sale (FMS) of Lockheed Martin Patriot PAC-3 missile interceptors to Riyadh.
The deal, worth up to $9 billion, would cover 730 PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement interceptors and associated equipment, the Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a Jan. 30 statement. Saudi Arabia is already a user of Patriot missile defense systems.
The agreement comes after U.S. President Donald Trump in May visited Saudi Arabia and announced $142 billion in arms deals, including for air and missile defense equipment. Trump in November also said he would approve the sale of Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to Saudi Arabia.
The Jan. 30 PAC-3 disclosure is an early indication 2026 will be another strong year for FMS deals involving missiles after 2025 saw a wave of approvals of such arms sales. Not all disclosed FMS agreements lead to deals. Denmark last year was approved for PAC-3 purchase but opted for a rival European system.
The Pentagon and Lockheed Martin in January said they had agreed to more than triple the annual output of Patriot PAC-3 MSE interceptors under a framework agreement covering seven years. It is designed to give the company and suppliers a sustained demand signal to make the investments required to boost production capacity. If approved, Lockheed Martin would increase annual production of the interceptor from around 600 units to 2,000 under the ensuing contract.
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