The 2006 Saudi Shopping Spree: $276M to Support American-Made Armor

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 (CLSSA). Briefly put, the Government of Saudi Arabia wants to be able to issue blanket order requisitions under the CLSSA for spare parts in support of its M1A2 Abrams Tanks, M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicles, High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWVs), construction equipment, and support vehicles and equipment in the inventory of the Royal Saudi Land Forces Ordnance Corps. More specifically, the American equipment is in the possession of the 8th Armored Brigade in the southwest, near Khamis Mushayt. If successful, this would grant the Saudis a contractually assured supply line for key vehicle spare parts, allowing them to operate their fleet with confidence. There’s a more detailed and contractual/ legalistic account in the DSCA release [PDF], but that’s the core of it. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $276 million, with procurement from the many contractors providing similar items to U.S. forces.