Saudi Arabia is buying a small batch of FGM-148 Javelin guided missiles, in what seems a precursor for a larger buy of this infantry guided weapon for the Saudi military. The current $71 million sale announced last week by the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) includes 150 missiles and 20 Command Launch Units (CLUs) and day/night thermal sights, a number that could equip about one infantry battalion.
The Saudi Arabian Land Forces currently have about 1,000 obsolete Dragon anti-tank missiles which are due for replacement by the new Javelins. The new combined arms battalions fielded with the Royal Saudi National Guard could also be equipped with the new weapons. Other Middle-Eastern armies already operating the Javelin include Jordan, UAE and Bahrain.
