The US State Department has approved Saudi Arabia’s request to potentially acquire over 1,000 TOW missiles at an estimated cost of $440 million.
The Kingdom intends to acquire 507 TOW 2A missiles and 507 TOW 2B missiles from US-based manufacturer Raytheon.
“The proposed sale will improve the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats by enhancing the strength of its homeland defense,” the Defense Security Cooperation Agency stated.
The approval comes a few days after the US Army awarded Raytheon two contracts for the TOW 2B anti-tank missile, totaling $676 million.
TOW missiles (Tube-launched, Optically Tracked, Wire-guided) are anti-armor weapon systems. The 2A and 2B versions are complementary for a variety of targets.
The TOW 2A is developed for direct frontal attacks, making it highly effective against bunkers and fortified positions.
In contrast, the TOW 2B is designed for top-down attacks that target tanks and armored vehicles by hitting their vulnerable upper armor.
The TOW 2A is suitable for urban combat and fortified defenses, while the TOW 2B performs better in open-field battles against mobile targets.
Riyadh has several systems capable of integrating the TOW missiles for land and air-based operations, such as the M2 Bradley armored fighting vehicle and the AH-64 Apache helicopter.
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