DUBAI: The Pentagon announced on Thursday that the US State Department had approved potential weapons sales to countries in the Middle East. 

According to news channel Al-Arabiya citing the Pentagon, these countries include Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Jordan.

The Pentagon’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency clarified that the approvals issued include the possible sale of F-16 fighter jets and related equipment to Jordan at an estimated cost of $4.21 billion.

Jordan’s request for 12 F-16 C Block 70 fighter jets, radios targeting pods and associated munitions components have also been approved in the recent sale.

Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia was given the green light to purchase 31 Multifunctional Information Distribution System-Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT) for as much as $23.7 million. This will help upgrade the Kingdom’s missile defense systems.

The Pentagon clarified that the proposed MIDS-LVT terminals purchased by Saudi Arabia will be installed in its Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) platforms. The previously provided MIDS-LVT (BU1) terminals were reportedly installed on its PATRIOT missile defense system

The UAE was approved for a purchase worth $30 million which included spare and repair parts for its Homing All the Way Killer (HAWK) missile defense systems.

Though approvals have been granted to the Arab nations, there are still no indications that contracts were signed or negotiations were closed throughout the process.