The US State Department has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Kuwait for sustainment and follow-on technical support of the Patriot programme, with an estimated value of $800m. 

Kuwait is seeking to procure equipment and services to maintain and support its Patriot missile system.  

The package includes spare and repair parts, storage, surveillance firing, stockpile reliability measures, and specific support for the Patriot PAC-3 Missile Support Centre (P3MSC).  

Other elements comprise operator and maintenance assistance, test programme set development support, technical documentation, personnel training with necessary equipment, engineering and logistics services from both US Government personnel and contractors, studies and surveys, as well as transportation and related programme logistics. 

Principal contractors identified for the possible transaction are RTX, Lockheed Martin, LEIDOS, and KBR. 

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) stated it has formally notified Congress of the possible transaction.  

The agency said the sale will not alter the basic military balance in the region and that Kuwait will have no difficulty absorbing the articles and services into its armed forces. 

To implement the sale, six US Government representatives and four contractor staff would be assigned for technical support and familiarisation. 

The proposed sale is expected to advance US foreign policy and national security interests by strengthening the security of a major non-Nato ally in the Middle East.  

It will also assist Kuwait in addressing current and future threats, maintaining higher levels of operational readiness, and supporting its ongoing modernisation plans. 

Last May, the US State Department authorised a separate potential FMS valued at $425m for the Patriot Post-Deployment Build 8.1 to Kuwait.  

Data from GlobalData forecasts that Kuwait’s defence budget will grow at a compound annual rate of 3.5%, reaching $7.5bn by 2029.