News In Brief

US plans to sell Saudis ground-to-air missiles

The Pentagon told Congress Wednesday it intends to sell Saudi Arabia 400 ground-to-air Stinger missile systems, along with 1,200 missiles. It put the cost of the sale, which includes spare parts, training, and technical support, at $141 million.

Saudi Arabia will be the first Middle Eastern country to have the missile, a shoulder-fired weapon, defense officials said, although Israel produces a similar infrared missile.

Congress has to be informed of major foreign arms sales, but officials said they expected no opposition to the Saudi deal.