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Saudi Arabia is world's fourth biggest military buyer
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Saudi Arabia's military spending in 2013 was $67 billion, up 14% from 2012. It jumped to number four on the list of the world's biggest military spenders, passing France, Japan and the UK, according to an April 14 report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Saudi Arabia spends the most on the list as a percentage of GDP by far.
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SIPRI Publications
Saudis lead Middle East military spending
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British defense firm BAE Systems announced on Feb. 19 that it had renegotiated a deal to sell 72 Eurofighter Typhoon jets to Saudi Arabia. The original 2007 price was 4.4 billion British pounds, but the Saudis requested advanced weaponry and equipment.
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BAE agrees price on Typhoon jet deal with Saudi Arabia government
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The announcement coincided with a visit by Prince Charles, but his spokesman said BAE was not discussed. The deal became controversial when it was revealed that former premier Tony Blair pressured a UK attorney general to drop a fraud inquiry into a past BAE sale to the kingdom for Tornado combat jets.
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BAE agrees price on Typhoon jet deal with Saudi Arabia government
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Saudi Crown Prince Salman bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud visited Pakistan Feb. 15-17 to meet with military officials. He was expected to sign a security pact. Pakistan has expressed interest in selling its JF-17 Thunder combat jets (pictured), based on the F-16. Both countries deny nuclear arm discussions.
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Pakistan looking to sell combat jets to Saudi Arabia - The Times of India
Saudi Crown Prince Meets With Pakistan's Military Leaders
Saudi nuclear weapons 'on order' from Pakistan
Saudi nuclear weapons 'on order' from Pakistan
Saudi eyeing Pakistan’s JF-17 fighter jet, modeled from U.S. F-16 | World Tribune
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The whole-of-government approach to export sales gives us a strategic advantage as we pursue international markets.
U.S. weapons maker General Dynamics Corp. said on Feb. 14 that its Canadian subsidiary signed a 14-year contract for up to $13 billion to build light-armored vehicles for Saudi Arabia, the largest advanced manufacturing export deal in Canadian history. Canadian Trade Minister Ed Fast helped lead negotiations.
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General Dynamics Canada wins Saudi deal worth up to $13 billion
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The Pentagon notified Congress on Dec. 5, 2013, of a sale of 15,000 Raytheon anti-tank missiles to Saudi Arabia worth $900 million. Although the notification said the sale was for Saudi defense, the kingdom has no known land threats. This raised speculation that the weapons were going to Syrian rebels.
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The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked Wire-Guided 2A/2B Radio-Frequency (RF) Missiles | The Official Home of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency
Why Is Saudi Arabia Buying 15,000 U.S. Anti-Tank Missiles for a War It Will Never Fight?
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In March 2013, Lockheed Martin signed a $253 million maintenance and training program for the kingdom's F-15 fleet. In Dec. 2011, Saudi Arabia purchased 84 F-15SA fighter jets for $29.4 billion, in a deal that also upgraded its 70 F-15S jets.
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Lockheed Martin receives $253M contract from Saudi Arabia - Orlando Business Journal
Saudi Arabia to purchase 84 F-15SA, upgrade current F-15 fleet
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Lockheed Martin also recognizes that Saudi Arabia requires much more than defense and security capabilities. Our diverse portfolio of programs also includes offerings in other areas such as health, cyber-security, air traffic control and energy solutions.
Lockheed Martin's Saudi Arabian subsidiary also sells missiles, naval equipment, sniper guns, surveillance equipment, and satellite communications to Saudi Arabia.
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Saudi Arabia · Lockheed Martin
The Saudis American Shopping Spree: F-15s, Helicopters More
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Saudi Arabia has made several purchases from the U.S. for Apache (pictured) and Blackhawk helicopters. The orders have been followed up with upgrades and training. Saudi Arabia signed $75.7 billion worth of U.S. arms transfer agreements from 2004-11, according to the Congressional Research Service.
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Saudi Arabia – AH-64D APACHE Longbow Helicopters | The Official Home of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency
Lockheed Martin awarded Saudi Arabia Apache contract
The Saudis American Shopping Spree: F-15s, Helicopters More
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This shows a break in the 50-year view in the West of 'We can't touch Saudi Arabia.'
Sweden announced March 10 it was canceling arms sales to Saudi Arabia after Swedish Foreign Minister Margot Wallstrom was prevented from making a speech at the Arab League critical of human rights in Saudi Arabia. The Saudi ambassador to Sweden was recalled March 11.
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At last, a Western country stands up to Saudi Arabia on human rights
Sweden cancels Saudi arms deal after human rights row | Business | DW.DE | 10.03.2015
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Saudi weapons purchases have raised red flags because of the kingdom's poor record on human rights and its support of hardline Islamists. The militaries of countries that have poor human rights records such as Egypt, Yemen, Libya, and Bahrain have also received help from Saudi Arabia amid crackdowns.
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Prince Charles should promote human rights in Saudi Arabia, not arms sales - UK Indymedia
Government touts $10 billion contract to arm Saudi Arabia amid human rights concerns
Insight: Saudi Arabia boosts Salafist rivals to al Qaeda in Syria
World Report 2012: Saudi Arabia | Human Rights Watch
UN News - Syria among 52 perpetrators of grave violations against children – UN report
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Saudi Arabia held the largest military exercises in the kingdom's history on May 1. It included jets, helicopters and ships, tanks and 130,000 troops. It also unveiled Chinese CSS-2 intermediate-range ballistic missiles, but said the missiles do not have nuclear capability, as they do in China.
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What Saudi Arabia is Saying to Iran By Inviting a Pakistani General to a Parade
Saudi Arabia flexes its military muscles
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The largest increase in military spending in 2014 among the top 15 spenders in the world was by Saudi Arabia, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute said April 13. Saudi Arabia was the fourth highest spender with outlays of $80.8 billion, a jump of 17%. It represented 4.5% of the total.
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13 Apr. 2015: US military spending falls, increases in eastern Europe, Middle East, Africa and Asia says SIPRI — www.sipri.org
TRENDS IN WORLD MILITARY EXPENDITURE, 2014
Eastern Europe is boosting military budgets, but US is still the big spender
Saudi military spending rose 17 percent in 2014: study
China, Russia, Saudi Arabia accelerate defense spending | The Japan Times
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Our Sources For This Story
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UN News - Syria among 52 perpetrators of grave violations against children – UN reporthttp://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=42200#.UGeUCaTyYq4
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Saudi Arabia · Lockheed Martinhttp://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/who-we-are/global/saudi-arabia.html
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Lockheed Martin receives $253M contract from Saudi Arabia - Orlando Business Journalhttp://www.bizjournals.com/orlando/morning_call/2013/03/lockheed-receives-253m-contract-from.html
Saudi Arabia generally doesn't announce military purchases, but multi-billion-dollar orders often facilitated by foreign governments are hard to conceal.