Latest updates: Fleet upgrades to UH-60L; Final helis make Saudi Arabia one of the last UH-60L customers. UH-60L: Leaving the LZ (lick to view larger) On July 20/06, the US DSCA announced Saudi Arabia's official request to buy 24 UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters, plus...
Saudi M1A2(click to view full) In July 2006 the US DSCA informed Congress [PDF] that the government of Saudi Arabia wished to purchase 58 M1A1 Abrams tanks, then upgrade these M1A1s, along with its existing 315 M1A2s, to create 373 M1A2S (Saudi) Abrams configuration...
LAV-25 in combat The Saudi Arabian National Guard is receiving a lot of investment. In July 2006, the Saudis formally tabled a multi-billion dollar request to buy LAV wheeled APCs and related equipment for its National Guard. October 2010 added a slew of added...
Saudi F-15, refueling(click to view larger) On Nov 14/06, a US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notice hinted that Saudi Arabia was about to become the first F-15 operator to switch its Pratt & Whitney F100 jet engines for General Electric's F110, as part of...
"Climb every mountaaain..."(click to view full) Developed as a private venture by France's Giat Industries (now Nexter), the CAESAR system is based around a light 155mm/52 caliber howitzer, mounted on a 6x6 truck chassis fitted with an armored cab. The air-portable...
Tornado IDS GR4(click to view full) In our December 2005 coverage of the $10 billion Saudi Eurofighter sale, DID counseled caution regarding reports that the aircraft would replace the Saudis' existing Tornado squadrons. Now British newspapers are reporting that BAE...
M1A1s + AH-64As, Bosnia(click to view full) The USA isn't the only country planning an Apache helicopter upgrade these days. In addition to $350 million for 24 UH-60L Black Hawk helicopters plus support, $276 million covering spare parts for American vehicles, and a...
M2 Bradley(click to view full) On July 21, 2006, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia to provide funds for blanket order requisitions, under a Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Agreement...
Tiger HAP & armaments(click to view full) Saudi Arabia continues to place large defense orders. In addition to the $350 million contract for 24 Sikorsky UH-60L Black Hawks, Gulf sources are reporting that a defense cooperation agreement with France was signed on June...
Italian Eurofighters (click to view full) The multi-national Eurofighter Typhoon has been described as the aerodynamic apotheosis of lessons learned from the twin engine "teen series" fighters that began with the F-14 and F-15, continued with the emergence of the...