This 36(b) arms sales notification is published to fulfill the requirements of section 155 of Public Law 104-164 dated July 21, 1996. The following is a copy of the attached Transmittal 26-35, Policy Justification, and Sensitivity of Technology.
Dated: October 15, 2026.
Stephanie J. Bost,
Alternate OSD Federal Register Liaison Officer, Department of Defense.
Transmittal No. 26-35
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended
(i)
Prospective Purchaser:
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
(ii)
Total Estimated Value:
Major Defense Equipment *
$2.0 billion
Other
$3.0 billion
TOTAL
$5.0 billion
Funding Source: National Funds
(iii)
Description and Quantity or Quantities of Articles or Services under Consideration for Purchase:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
Five thousand four (5,004) KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits
Five thousand (5,000) KMU-556 JDAM guidance kits
Five thousand four (5,004) BLU-111 500-lb general purpose bombs
Five thousand (5,000) BLU-117 2,000-lb general purpose bombs
Non-MDE:
The following non-MDE items will also be included: FMU-139 fuze systems; DSU-38 and DSU-40 target detectors; containers and support equipment; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support.
(iv)
Military Department:
Air Force (SR-D-YAJ)
(v)
Prior Related Cases, if any:
None
(vi)
Sales Commission, Fee, etc., Paid, Offered, or Agreed to be Paid:
None known at this time
(vii)
Sensitivity of Technology Contained in the Defense Article or Defense Services Proposed to be Sold:
See Attached Annex
(viii)
Date Report Delivered to Congress:
September 1, 2026
* as defined in Section 47(6) of the Arms Export Control Act.
POLICY JUSTIFICATION
Kingdom of Saudi Arabia—Joint Direct Attack Munitions—Extend Range
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to buy five thousand four (5,004) KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) guidance kits; five thousand (5,000) KMU-556 JDAM guidance kits; five thousand four (5,004) BLU-111 500-lb general purpose bombs; and five thousand (5,000) BLU-117 2,000-lb general purpose bombs. The following non-major defense equipment will also be included: FMU-139 fuze systems; DSU-38 and DSU-40 target detectors; containers and support equipment; spare parts, consumables and accessories, and repair and return support; U. S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total cost is $5.0 billion.
This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a Major non-NATO Ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Gulf Region.
The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia's airborne defense capability to counter current and future regional threats, strengthen its homeland defense, and improve interoperability with systems operated by U.S. forces and other Gulf Region partners. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the military balance in the region.
The principal contractor will be The Boeing Corporation, located in Arlington, VA. At this time, the U.S. Government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness because of this proposed sale.
Transmittal No. 26-35
Notice of Proposed Issuance of Letter of Offer Pursuant to Section 36(b)(1) of the Arms Export Control Act
Annex
Item No. vii
(vii) Sensitivity
of Technology:
1. The Joint Direct Attack Munition-Extended Range (JDAM-ER) consist of a bomb body paired with a warhead-specific tail kit containing an Inertial Navigation System/Global Positioning System Precision Positioning Service guidance capability that converts unguided free-fall bombs into accurate, adverse weather “smart” munitions. The extended range wing kit can be readily installed on existing JDAM MK-82 500-lb weapons and JDAM MK-84 2,000-lb weapons in the field. The JDAM weapon can be used against a variety of land and surface targets during the day or night. It can also receive target coordinates via preplanned mission data from the delivery aircraft, by onboard aircraft sensors during captive carry, or from a third-party source via manual or automated aircrew cockpit entry.
a. The GBU-31 is a 2,000-lb JDAM, and consists of a KMU-556 tail kit and BLU-117 or MK-84 bomb body.
b. The GBU-38 is a 500-lb JDAM, and consists of a KMU-572 tail kit and BLU-111 or MK-82 bomb body.
2. The highest level of classification of defense articles, components, and services included in this potential sale is SECRET.
3. If a technologically advanced adversary were to obtain knowledge of the specific hardware and software
( printed page 66122)
elements, the information could be used to develop countermeasures that might reduce system effectiveness or be used in the development of a system with similar or advanced capabilities.
4. The U.S. Government has determined that Saudi Arabia can provide substantially the same degree of protection for the sensitive technology being released as the U.S. Government. This proposed sale is necessary in furtherance of the U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives outlined in the Policy Justification.
5. All defense articles and services listed in this transmittal have been authorized for release and export to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.