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May 12/11: The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces [PDF] Saudi Arabia’s formal request on behalf of its army to buy over $300 million in night vision equipment.
The DSCA release specifically mentions “defense and counter-terrorism requirements to deter current insurgent activity along their southern border” as part of the rationale. Yemen has indeed been a little reported but consequential regional trouble spot, which has drawn open intervention from Saudi naval and air forces in recent years. The Royal Saudi Land Forces want:
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200 High-performance In-Line Sniper Sight (HISS) 1,500m Thermal Weapon Sights. These FLIR, Inc. products mount in-line with standard optical scopes up to 15X, which serve as the eyepiece.
200 MilCAM Recon III LocatIR Long Range, Light Weight Thermal Binoculars with Geo Location. These FLIR, Inc. products should go well with their latest requests for GPS-guided weapons.
7,000 Dual Beam Aiming Lasers (DBAL A2), made by Laser Devices, Inc. in Monterey, CA. The DBAL A2 includes an IR pointer, IR pointer/illuminator and the choice of a red or green pointer that can be seen with the naked eye.
6,000 AN/PVS-21 Low Profile Night Vision Goggles (LPNVG). Popular with special forces and elite law enforcement teams, the PVS-21 includes an integrated Heads Up Display (HUD) capability for “Sensor Fusion” applications. It’s made by STS in Beavercreek, OH.
Plus spare and repair parts, support equipment, technical documentation and publications, translation services, training, and U.S. government and contractor support.
The estimated cost is up to $330 million, if the sale is not blocked and contracts are negotiated with the respective vendors, implementation of this sale will not require the assignment of any U.S. Government or contractor representatives. That’s a bit unusual for Saudi Arabia, but these devices are fairly straightforward as military equipment goes.