Berlin has given the green light for the delivery of 150 Iris-T air-to-air missiles. AFP
Hebestreit confirmed a report by the German weekly Spiegel, which said that Berlin had given the green light for the export of 150 Iris-T air-to-air missiles to Saudi Arabia.
"The details of this report are accurate," said Hebestreit, speaking at a regular government news conference.
The newly approved Iris-T missiles could "be fired from aircraft at airborne targets, that is to say missiles, drones and so on", Hebestreit added.
Approval for the export of the missiles, manufactured by German group Diehl Defence, was granted towards the end of last year, Spiegel reported.
Berlin has loosened its stance on weapons exports to the kingdom recently, with the government praising Saudi Arabia's "constructive approach" in the war on Gaza.
Saudi Arabia had not renounced plans to normalise relations with Israel since the beginning of its war on the Gaza Strip, Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock noted Sunday.
Berlin on Monday said it was also ready to allow the export of Eurofighter jets to Saudi Arabia.
Until now, it had long used its veto rights, as part of the defence partnership behind the jet, to block a deal sought by London since 2018
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