On April 25, 2025, the international news agency Reuters reported that the United States was preparing to offer Saudi Arabia an arms package worth over $100 billion. This monumental deal signals a significant evolution in the strategic defense relationship between Washington and Riyadh, reaffirming the United States’ role as Saudi Arabia’s principal defense partner amid shifting geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East.
The defense ties between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia have long been foundational to the regional balance of power. Saudi Arabia remains one of the largest recipients of U.S. military hardware, benefiting from decades of collaboration that includes training, maintenance, logistics, and a spectrum of armament supplies. This relationship, while occasionally strained by political tensions and human rights concerns, remains critical for U.S. interests in countering Iranian influence and maintaining Gulf security.
A prime illustration of this enduring partnership was the acquisition of advanced U.S. air defense systems in response to increasing threats from ballistic missiles and drones in the region. In 2017, Saudi Arabia signed a landmark agreement to purchase the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system from Lockheed Martin, in a deal estimated at $15 billion. This was later formalized in 2018, and delivery of components began in subsequent years. THAAD is designed to intercept short-, medium-, and intermediate-range ballistic missiles during their terminal phase using hit-to-kill technology. Its deployment has significantly enhanced Saudi Arabia’s ability to shield its critical infrastructure from missile attacks.
In addition to THAAD, the Kingdom has been a longstanding operator of the Raytheon-built MIM-104 Patriot air and missile defense system. Over time, Saudi Arabia has upgraded its Patriot inventory to include the PAC-3 (Patriot Advanced Capability-3) variant, which provides greater effectiveness against tactical ballistic missiles and advanced air-breathing threats. These systems have been actively employed in intercepting numerous missile and drone attacks, particularly those launched by Houthi forces from Yemen, demonstrating their operational relevance in real-time combat scenarios.