US to give THAD missile defense system to Saudi Arabia know all about it
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15 billion dollar deal
The US State Department had approved a possible sale of THAAD last October. The deal was worth $15 billion. The US will deliver seven Thaad missile defense systems and 360 missiles to Saudi Arabia in four years. Thaad is developed by Lockheed Martin. It is designed in such a way that it can destroy ballistic missiles in the last phase of flight in a jiffy. The system is designed using the ‘hit-to-kill’ principle. That’s why the interceptor does not have a warhead. X band radar is an important part of THAAD. Its radar station can detect and track ballistic missiles up to 1000 km away. It has a maximum intercept range of 200 km and an altitude of 150 km.
China and Saudi getting closer
In March, China mediated a historic agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia. It is believed that this agreement can prove to be helpful in reducing the tension in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia also announced a $3.6 billion deal to buy 10% of China’s Rongsheng Petrochemical in lieu of this agreement. With this announcement, it has significantly strengthened its energy ties with China. It will then supply 480,000 barrels of crude oil per day to the company.
the advantage of enmity to the middle east
Analysts say that as America’s animosity with China and Russia grows, Saudi Arabia and the rest of the Middle East are on the way to diversify their partnerships. They say that Saudi Arabia may be coming closer to China, but it is very unlikely that China will become a rival of America in the region. According to Saudi analyst and author Ali Shihabi, his country’s traditional relationship with the US is over. Saudi Arabia has started keeping more openness in relations. At the same time, China has also put an end to the dominance of America in the Middle East.
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