The US State Department has approved potential defence deals worth a combined $1.5 billion with Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.
The department cleared the potential training services and related equipment for military helicopters to Saudi Arabia for $1 billion, the Pentagon said in a statement.
The US army will train the Royal Saudi Land Forces Aviation Corps on a range of helicopters with an estimated total cost of $500 million and sell helicopter-related equipment for a further $500 million.
In November Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said the kingdom will increase the pledged investment into the US economy to $1 trillion, up from the $600 billion he committed in January.
The potential sale and maintenance of F-16 jets to Bahrain for $455 million was also approved.
The principal contractors will be General Electric Aerospace and Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, a statement said.


