the sale of missiles worth $1.75 bn to Saudi Arabia.

Thursday 2 October 2014 15:53 BST

Last update: 

Monday 11 May 2015 11:58 BST

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The US on Wednesday announced a new arms export contract for the sale of missiles worth $1.75 bn to Saudi Arabia.

The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency, the Department of Defence body responsible for arms exports, said the contract comprises the sale of 202 Patriot missiles to the Gulf state, which is currently taking part in anti-IS coalition strikes in Syria alongside the US.

Part of the deal included promises from the main contractors that they would contribute to the local economy of Saudi Arabia after the deal is completed, though no details were given as to how this might be implemented.

The main US partners in the huge contract are Raytheon and Lockheed Martin, two leading US-based defence manufacturers.

Raytheon and Lockheed Martin are both currently mired in scandal, after it was revealed on Wednesday that they are among the leading US defence companies that provide significant funding for the Centre for Security Policy (CSP).

CSP is a Washington-based think tank established to “promote US national security” and runs a number of ongoing campaigns like Shariah: The Threat to America and Jihadists in Our Own Backyard.

The organisation is headed by Frank Gaffney, who is also its founder. Salon Magazine has previously dubbed Gaffney one of Washington’s “most outspoken critics of American Muslims”. He is known to have close relations with Washington insiders like Charles Fairbanks, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State and Margaret Graham, a consultant at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.

Despite controversy caused by the recent revelations, shares in Lockheed Martin hit an all-time high on Tuesday, a day before the Pentagon officially announced the company’s involvement in the $1.75 bn defence package.

//http://www.middleeasteye.net/news/saudi-arabia-1295679323