Saudi Shopping Spree: A Hardened, Networked National Guard

Boeing on AH-6i

April 29/14: AH-6i. Boeing in Mesa, AZ receives a $234.7 million unfinalized contract covering 24 AH-6i armed scout helicopters, the initial spares package, and ground support equipment for Saudi Arabia. $115 million is committed immediately.

IHS Jane’s confirms that this is the AH-6i’s 1st sale, as Jordan has yet to make good on its Letter of Intent. The AH-6i Letter of Agreement for 36 machines was reportedly signed on Feb 13/12, but phases, numbers, and prices remained to be negotiated. This purchase appears to clarify comments from Lynn Tilton of MD Helicopters that the type’s initial order would be for 24, with more to follow. Beyond Saudi Arabia, Boeing is reportedly targeting AH-1 Cobra operators. Many of whom received daylight-capable surplus American aircraft at a discount, and they may not be able to afford a full replacement like the AH-1Z or AH-64E.

Work will be performed in Mesa, AZ with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/16. US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL manages the contract on behalf of their Saudi FMS client (W58RGZ-14-C-0082). See also IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly, “Boeing awarded AH-6i contract for Saudi Arabia” | Aviation Week Farnborough, “Boeing Readies Saudi AH-6i, Eyes More Customers”.

April 23/14: TOW me. Raytheon announces:

“An international customer signed an agreement with the U.S. Government for a foreign military sale (FMS) of tube-launched, optically tracked, wireless-guided (TOW) missiles to be supplied by Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) in a deal valued at approximately $750 million.

Raytheon plans to deliver nearly 14,000 TOW missiles to the customer over a three-year period beginning in 2015. A resulting order is expected to be executed by the U.S. government with Raytheon in the coming weeks.”

Do they mention the customer? No, they don’t. Are there any other customers with pending orders for “nearly 14,000 TOW missiles” (q.v. Dec 5/13)? No, there aren’t. Keeping the one secret while advertising the other is irrational. Then again, anyone who was willing to give DID $750 million would be allowed to be be irrational. Sources: Raytheon, “International customer signs agreement with USG valued at $750 million for Raytheon’s TOW missiles”.

USMC LAV-ATs
(click to view full)

Feb 14/14: LAVs. The Canadian government announces a huge contract, and lets slip that it’s from Saudi Arabia in the footnotes. Mr. Fast led trade missions to the Saudi kingdom in 2012 and 2013, so he has cause to be pleased, but he may have missed the nuance that Saudi Arabia is generally reticent about its military buys. Even if it is a tremendously timely order for GDLS Canada, which will keep the plant and its supply chain open as US Stryker (LAV-III) purchases wind to a close:

“The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, and Danny Deep, Vice President, General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada, announced today a historic multi-billion dollar contract win for vehicles and associated equipment, training and support services. The announcement was made in London, Ontario, where the light armoured vehicles will be designed and manufactured and which will become the epicentre of a cross-Canada supply chain directly benefiting more than 500 local Canadian firms. This 14-year contract will create and sustain more than 3,000 jobs each year in Canada, with southern Ontario accounting for approximately 40 percent of the supply base.”

To clear up any confusion about jurisdictions: The contractor is General Dynamics Land Systems, which is an American firm subject to US government export laws and approval requirements. At the same time, the state-run Canadian Commercial Corp. handles all exports from Canadian firms, even if they’re subsidiaries like GDLS-Canada.

There’s no official corporate release yet, but General Dynamics has described the deal to reporters as $10 billion, which could rise to $13 billion if all options are exercised. That’s far bigger than Oct 4/07 and June 13/11 DSCA requests for new vehicles (total: about $1 billion) can account for. Nor do purchases for the Saudi Arabian National Guard make up much of the difference. GDLS-Canada announced a $2.2 billion deal on Nov 24/09 for 724 LAV-II 8×8 wheeled armored personnel carriers, in 10 different variants, which exactly matched a July 20/06 Saudi DSCA request.

The Saudis already had a substantial fleet of LAV vehicles in their military branches. It seems very likely that a support contract covering all Saudi LAV fleets going forward is a big part of this deal, along with all LAVs requested to date and perhaps more. It is possible for the Saudis to order vehicles as a Direct Commercial Sale. DCS still requires approvals, but doesn’t require the same announcements, and would make the Saudis fully responsible for managing the buy. Sources: Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada, “Largest Advanced Manufacturing Export Win in Canada’s History” | Reuters, “General Dynamics Canada wins Saudi deal worth up to $13 billion”.

Dec 5/13: TOW missiles. The US DSCA announces that Saudi Arabia has requested export clearance to buy 13,935 TOW missiles: 9,650 BGM-71E TOW-2A RF wireless missiles, 91 TOW-2A Buy-to-Fly test missiles, 4,145 BGM-71F TOW-2B Aero wire-guided missiles, and 49 TOW-2B Buy-to-Fly test missiles. Plus containers, spare and repair parts, support equipment, tools and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, and other US government and contractor support.

The TOW-2As have a nose spike to help penetrate reactive armor or walls, and have a published range of around 4 km/ 2.5 miles. The TOW 2B Aeros lose the spike, add more range, and rely on a top-attack mode using twin EFP (explosively-formed penetrator) warheads, but these missiles continue to use the old trailing wire guidance. This top-attack mode is somewhat useful against soft targets, but the nature of EFPs mean that they are far best used against armored vehicles.

The estimated cost is up to $900 million, and the principal contractor will be Raytheon Corporation of Tucson, AZ. Saudi Arabia, who already fields TOW missiles, won’t need any additional personnel in country for support. The DSCA adds that:

“The proposed sale will support the Ministry of the National Guard’s defense and counter-terrorism missions… [and] improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet and defeat current and future threats from enemy armored vehicles.”

Saudi Arabia’s neighbor Bahrain requested these same missiles in late 2011, but they were withheld by the US State Department following the government’s crackdown on protesters. Saudi Arabian forces played a role in that crackdown, and the Saudi National Guard’s explicitly-referenced internal security role would seem to offer a parallel. The most interesting speculation belongs to StratRisks, who thinks the TOWs may be involved in a plan to transfer non-American anti-tank missiles (HOT, Bill 2, SS-11) to Syrian rebels, while replenishing Saudi stocks. Subsequent reports from USA Today, which discuss the shipment of TOW missiles to Syrian rebels and mention “Saudis or other Gulf Arab states” as the likely conduit, add fuel to the fire.

Unlike Bahrain, however, seriously offending the Saudis carries really big costs to the US defense industry. Two weeks after the announcement, there isn’t a peep of Congressional opposition. Sources: DSCA, 13-57 | StratRisks, “What’s up with Saudi Arabia’s 15,000 anti-tank missiles?” | USA Today, “U.S. missiles sent to Syrian rebels as test”.

June 20/13: Support. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces [PDF] Saudi Arabia’s official request for up to $4 billion in support services for the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) modernization program. This has been an ongoing program in Saudi Arabia (q.v. July 18/08, Jan 20/10 entries).

Services to be provided will include OPM-SANG operation, support and equipment, and Modernization Program support, personnel training and training equipment, transportation, repair and return, spare and repair parts, automation initiatives, SANG Health Affairs Program support, construction, communication and support equipment, publications and technical documentation, and other forms of US Government and contractor support.

The principal contractor will remain Northrop Grumman, though its subsidiary Vinell Arabia. Implementation won’t require any more people than the existing 250 U.S. Government personnel and 650 contractor representatives who are already in country.

March 25/13: Saudi. Sikorsky in Stratford, CT receives a $49 million firm-fixed-price contract. This modification will provide engineering and configuration services to 4 utility helicopters for Saudi Arabia. The contract number indicates a MYP-8 purchase, and the amount indicates that there’s an accompanying base helicopter order still to come. There are ways that could be done outside the purview of standard contract announcements.

Work will be performed in Stratford, CT with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/16. One bid was solicited, with 1 bid received by US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL (W58RGZ-12-C-0008).

Military MD-530F
(click to view full)

July 13/12: MD-530Fs. MD Helicopter in Mesa, AZ receives a $40.7 million firm-fixed-price contract, to buy MD 530F helicopters and related equipment for Saudi Arabia. This is the type’s 2nd military order, after Afghanistan ordered it as a training & utility platform, so the buy is significant to the company.

Saudi Arabia’s Oct 20/10 DSCA request had mentioned 12 MD-530Fs, which are designed to operate in the thinner air created by hot and/or high-altitude conditions. These helicopters are often used in policing and light utility roles, but they can be armed with light weapons. The SANG’s forthcoming AH-6is are more explicitly designed for the Armed Reconnaissance role.

Work will be performed in Mesa, AZ with an estimated completion date of July 30/13. One bid was solicited, with 1 bid received by US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL, on behalf of its Saudi Foreign Military Sale client (W58RGZ-12-C-0105).

Feb 13/12: SANG AH-6is. Boeing representatives tell reporters that Saudi Arabia signed a Letter of Agreement for 36 AH-6i light scout and attack helicopters “a few weeks ago.” The AH-6i were part of the Oct 20/10 DSCA request for its National Guard, and the next step involves negotiations on price and delivery schedules. If those are completed, it isn’t clear whether Saudi Arabia would be the type’s 1st customer. A Rotor & Wing report says that:

“Tilton can also see further military riches on the horizon as Boeing pushes the AH-6i into the world market as a mini-Apache “with attitude.” There is a first order of 24 aircraft with more to follow.”

The other country that has been publicly associated with the AH-6i is Jordan, who reportedly signed a Letter of Intent in 2010. Defense News | Rotor & Wing.

TOW w. ITAS sensors
(click to view full)

June 25/11: Raytheon in McKinney, TX receives a $53.6 million firm-fixed-price contract for 78 Improved Target Acquisition System units. ITAS is a part of the targeting system on the missile-carrying LAV-AT, and is also used for BGM-71 TOW missiles carried by troops or mounted on other vehicles. The contract could rise to 115 ITAS units, if options of 12 units for the Saudi Arabian National Guard, and 25 units for the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense and Aviation, are exercised.

Work will be performed in McKinney, TX, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 30/13. One bid was solicited with one bid received by US Army TACOM’s Project Management Office Light Armored Vehicle in Warren, MI (W56HZV-11-C-0274).

June 13/11: The US DSCA announces [PDF] Saudi Arabia’s official request to buy up to 82 more LAV wheeled armored vehicles, plus associated equipment and support. The estimated cost is $350 million, but exact amounts will depend on the contract, if one is negotiated. In light of Saudi troops’ recent intervention in Bahrain at that government’s request, this bit from the DSCA was interesting:

“The proposed sale will improve the Saudi Arabian National Guard’s ability to effectively conduct security and counter-terrorism operations, and would serve to make a key strategic partner in regional contingency operations more capable of defeating those who would threaten regional stability and less reliant on the deployment of U.S. forces to maintain or restore stability in the Middle East.”

Prime contractors will include General Dynamics Land Systems in London, Ontario, Canada (LAVs), ITT Aerospace/Communications in Fort Wayne, IN (radios); Harris Corporation in Rochester, NY (radios); and Raytheon Corporation in Tucson, AZ (LAV-AT’s weapon system). Saudi Arabia already deploys many LAVs, and implementation of this sale will not require the assignment of any more U.S. Government or contractor representatives. Items requested include:

• 25 LAV-25s, with 25mm cannon turrets
  
• 8 LAV-AG Assault Guns, with 90mm cannon turrets
  
• 8 LAV-AT Anti-Tank Vehicles, which carry BGM-71 TOW missiles
  
• 6 LAV-MS, with breech-loaded 120mm mortars and up to 40 rounds inside
  
• 3 standard LAV wheeled APCs, no turret
  
• 2 LAV-A Ambulances
  
• 24 LAV-C2 Command and Control Vehicles
  
• 3 LAV Ammo Carriers
  
• 2 LAV-R Recovery Vehicles, for towing stuck vehicles
  
• 1 LAV Engineer Vehicle, which can add bulldozer, mine plough, and other attachments
  
• AN/VRC 90E and AN/VRC-92E Export SINCGARS radios

Plus battery chargers, spare and repair parts, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, and U.S. Government and contractor support.

Boeing’s AH-6 ARH
(click to view full)

Oct 20/10: As part of Saudi Arabia’s $60 billion 2010 mega-request, the US DSCA announces [PDF] Saudi Arabia’s formal request to buy helicopters, long-term support, and possibly even base construction for the SANG, worth up to $25.6 billion.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require approximately 900 contractor representatives and 30 U.S. Government personnel on a full time basis in Saudi Arabia, for a period of 15 years. Also, this program will require multiple trips to Saudi Arabia involving U.S. government and contractor personnel to participate in annual technical reviews, training, and one-week Program Reviews in Saudi Arabia.

Items requested include:

• 36 Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow Block III attack helicopters. This is the latest version, and Saudi Arabia could become its first confirmed export customer.

• 72 Sikorsky UH-60M Block Hawk Helicopters. The most current variant. Saudi neighbors Bahrain and the UAE have already ordered them.

• 36 Boeing AH-6i Light Attack Helicopters. A different branch of the same family tree that gave birth to the MD 530F. Nearby Jordan signed a Letter of Intent for the AH-6i in May 2010.

• 12 MD Helicopters MD-530F helicopters. Often used by law enforcement as an excellent light utility helicopter, though some countries operate militarized light attack variants. The 530F variant has longer rotor blades and other enhancements, so it performs better in the thinner air of hot or high altitude conditions. It doesn’t use MD’s patented NOTAR system.

• 243 T700-GE-701D turboshaft engines. The UH-60M and the AH-64D both use 2 engines for each helicopter.

• 40 Modernized Targeting Acquisition and Designation Systems/Pilot
  

• 20 AN/APG-78 Fire Control Radars with Radar Electronics Unit. The Apache Longbow’s mast mounted radar.
  
• 20 AN/APR-48A Radar Frequency Interferometer

• 40 Wescam MX-15Di (AN/AAQ-35) Sight/Targeting Sensors. Likely for the AH-6is.

• 52 30mm Automatic Weapons. AH-64D Apaches use ATK’s M230 chain gun.

• 40 GAU-19/A 12.7mm (.50 caliber) Gatling Guns. Can be used as door guns, or pylon-mounted on helicopters. Popular light helicopter weapon.

• 168 M240H Machine Guns. FN Herstal USA’s 7.62mm helicopter door guns, not used on Apaches.

• 421 M310 A1 Modernized Launchers. For Hellfire missiles.
  
• 158 M299 Hellfire Longbow Missile Launchers
  
• 2,592 AGM-114R Hellfire Missiles. The -114R is the most modern version, with a triple-threat blast, armor defeating, and fragmentation warhead.

• 171 of Northrop Grumman’s AN/APR-39 Radar Signal Detecting Sets
  
• 171 of Goodrich’s AN/AVR-2B Laser Warning Sets
  
• 171 of BAE’s AAR-57v3/5 Common Missile Warning Systems
  
• 318 Improved Countermeasures Dispensers

• 108 of EFW’s Improved Helmet Display Sight Systems. IHADSS is used by the Apache. The number involved indicates that they may have been picked for the AH-6is as well.

• 300 AN/AVS-9 Night Vision Goggles.

• 1,229 AN/PRQ-7 Combat Survivor Evader Locators (CSEL). Radios used by pilots, especially if they’re shot down.

• 18 Aircraft Ground Power Units.
  
• 4 BS-1 Enhanced Terminal Voice Switches
  
• 4 Digital Airport Surveillance Radars
  
• 4 Fixed-Base Precision Approach Radar
  
• 4 DoD Advanced Automation Service
  
• 4 Digital Voice Recording System
  
• Also included are trainers, simulators, generators, munitions, design and construction, transportation, wheeled vehicles and organization equipment, tools and test equipment, communication equipment, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems, GPS/INS, spare and repair parts, support equipment, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical documentation, and U.S. Government and contractor support services. The Saudis usually require a lot of support from contractors, in part because it’s an opportunity for royal family members to take a cut.

UH-60M Test flight
(click to see full)

The DSCA specifies the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) as the AH-64D recipient, but is less clear about the other helicopters. The implicit message is that they’re part of the same FMS case to the same military entity, and the SANG could certainly make good use of the UH-60Ms, AH-6is, and MD 530Fs for “the defense of vital installations and will provide close air support for the Saudi military ground forces.” The DSCA adds that this sale will improve the SANG’s “Apache sustainability and interoperability with the U.S. Army, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and other coalition forces.”

The prime contractors will be:

• Boeing in Mesa, AZ (AH-64D, AH-6i, CSEL)
  
• Lockheed Martin Corporation in Orlando, FL (Arrowhead, Hellfire IIs, launchers)
  
• Lockheed Martin Millimeter Technology in Owego, NY (Longbow system)
  
• Longbow LLC in Orlando, FL. A Lockheed/Northrop-Grumman joint venture (Longbow system)
  
• Sikorsky Aircraft West in Palm Beach, FL (UH-60M)
  
• MD Helicopters in Mesa AZ (MD 530F)
  
• General Electric Company in Cincinnati, OH (engines)
  
• ITT Aerospace/Communications in Fort Wayne, IN (night vision)

Saudi Arabia already operates some AH-64s and UH-60s, and the DSCA believes they will have no difficulty absorbing all of these helicopters into their armed forces. Given the level of contractor support included, that’s no surprise.

July 18/10: Raytheon announces a $55 million contract to deliver TOW 2A RF (Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wireless-Guided) anti-armor missiles, as part of a foreign military sale to Saudi Arabia’s National Guard.

This will make Saudi Arabia one of the first TOW RF customers; most TOW missiles in arsenals around the world are still guided through the missiles’ unspooling wire. See also Dec 17/09 entry.

Jan 20/10: Training & support. Northrop Grumman announces a 5-year contract to continue the modernization and training of the Saudi Arabia National Guard. The $550 million cost-plus-award-fee hybrid contract also contains fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price elements, and as a Foreign Military Sale contract it is managed through the US Army.

Under the terms of the contract, Northrop Grumman Technical Services subsidiary Vinnell Arabia LLC will provide U.S. Army-based doctrine and military training, as well as logistics and support services. Work will be performed throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

TOW-2A cutaway
(click to view full)

Dec 17/09: TOW-2A. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces [PDF] Saudi Arabia’s official request to buy 2,700 of Raytheon’s BGM-71E-4B-RF TOW-2A Radio Frequency missiles, plus 42 missiles for lot acceptance testing), publications and technical documentation, and other related elements of support, under the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) modernization program. The estimated cost is $177 million, and the principal contractor would be Raytheon Corporation in Tucson, Arizona. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale, and its implementation will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Saudi Arabia.

The TOW 2A is an improved version of the original Tube-launched Optically-tracked Wire-guided missile that’s designed for “bunker busting” attacks on fortifications, bunkers and urban structures. It can also defeat reactive armor if used against tanks etc. The TOW 2A has a published range of 3.75 km/ 2.33 miles.

The TOW-2A RF departs from the type’s standard wire-guided approach by replacing the unspooling wire in the missile’s rear with an encrypted radio link. The Canadian Army became the missile’s first customer in 2007, and because the wireless system is built into the missile and the missile case, TOW RF is compatible with all existing TOW 2-capable ground launchers – including Canadian LAV-TUA (LAV-AT) vehicles.

LAV-M-Saudi
(click to view full)

Nov 24/09: LAVs. General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada in London, Ontario announces a $2.2 billion Foreign Military Sale contract for initial work on 724 LAV-II 8×8 wheeled armored personnel carriers, in 10 different variants. While the destination country is not specified, the number exactly matches the July 20/06 Saudi request. Delivery will begin in 2011.

Dr. Sridhar Sridharan, senior vice-president of General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada:

“We are pleased to be working once again with TACOM and USASAC in support of their Foreign Military Sales program. This contract now allows us to immediately start work on variant design and production readiness. We look forward to reaching the manufacturing portion of this contract which will help us bring stability to our production workforce.”

See July 20/06 entry, and PR Newswire | London Free Press | AP.

July 18/08: Support. The US DSCA announces [PDF] Saudi Arabia’s formal request to buy up to $1.8 billion in equipment for the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG), covering the years 2009 through 2013. This includes training, professional military advice and assistance, management assistance, contract administration, construction oversight, transportation of equipment, personnel training and training equipment, LAV training, spare and repair parts, management of repair and return of components, automation program support, and other related elements of logistics support.

The principal contractor will be Vinnell Arabia Corporation of Herndon, VA. At present, there are approximately 215 U.S. Government personnel and 500 contractor representatives in country supporting the SANG Modernization Program.

AN/PVS-7: The View
(note MFALS on gun)

Sept 27/06: The US DSCA announces [PDF] Saudi Arabia’s official request to buy Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) equipment. “The radios will provide the critical VHF and HF links necessary for a large fast moving force and integration with the SINCGARS radios SANG already has fielded in its Light Armored Vehicle and Light Infantry Brigades.” The request includes:

• 552 AN/VRC-90E Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems (SINCGARS) Vehicular Single Long-Range Radio Systems;
  
• 225 AN/VRC-92E SINCGARS Vehicular Single Long-Range Radio Systems Dual Long Range
  
• 1,214 AN/PRC-119 E SINCGARS Man-pack Single Long-Range Radio Systems Man-pack
  
• Vehicular installation kits, communications management system computers, antennas, programmable fill devices, support equipment; publications and technical data; personnel training and training equipment; contractor engineering and technical support services and other related elements of logistics support.
  

• ITT Aerospace/Communications Fort Wayne, Indiana
  
• Harris Corporation Rochester, New York
  
• Northrop Grumman Corporation Linthicum, Maryland

At present, there are approximately 250 U.S. Government personnel and 630 contractor representatives in country supporting the SANG modernization program.

SpearHead radios

July 20/06: LAVs. The DSCA announces [PDF] Saudi Arabia’s formal request for 724 Light Armored Vehicles (LAV) in a number of different variants, plus weapons, night-vision equipment, communications gear etc., in order to modernize the SANG. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $5.8 billion.

Congress didn’t take any action to block the sale, but progress took a while. When we talked to GDLS over a year later, in October 2007, they expected to complete a deal some time in 2008, but it took until November 2009 before a contract emerged. Variants requested at the time included:

• LAV-PC (personnel carrier)
  
• LAV-25 (personnel carrier with 25mm canon)
  
• LAV-A (Ambulance)
  
• LAV-AC (Ammunition Carrier)
  
• LAV-AG (Assault Gun with 90mm cannon)
  
• LAV-AT (Anti-Tank, pop-up turret carries TOW missiles)
  
• LAV-CC (Command & Control)
  
• LAV-E (Engineer, with bulldozer blade et. al.)
  
• LAV-M (81mm Mortar carrier – but there is a LAV-M(S) Saudi configuration, with a 120mm breech-loading mortar in a turret)
  
• LAV-R (Recovery, equipped with crane etc.)

Other equipment ordered included:

• 162 84mm Recoilless Rifles (popularly known as bazookas). The well-known Carl Gustaf/MAAWS is an example of a modern 84mm recoilless rifle. It is made by Bofors of Sweden.
  
• 630 AN/PAS-13 Thermal Weapon Sights for soliders’ weapons
  
• 1,700 AN/AVS-7D Aviators binocular Night Vision Goggles (NVG). See DID’s NVG article.
  
• 432 AN/PVS-14 monocular NVG. See DID’s NVG article.
  
• 1,160 AN/VRC-90E Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems (SINCGARS) vehicular single long-range radio systems
  
• 627 AN/VRC-92E SINCGARS vehicular single long-range radio systems
  
• 518 AN/VRC-119E SINCGARS vehicular single long-range radio systems
  
• 2,198 SINCGARS Spearhead handheld radios

The Saudis are also requesting Harris Corporation Commercial High Frequency Radios; various commercial vehicles; fixed facilities and ranges; simulations; generators; battery chargers; protective clothing; shop equipment; training devices; spare and repair parts; sets, kits, and outfits; support equipment; publications and technical data; personnel training and training equipment; contractor engineering and technical support services and other related elements of logistics support.

As noted earlier, the total value if all options are exercised could be as high as $5.8 billion, with no industrial offset agreements. The principal contractors will be:

• General Dynamics Land Systems in London, Ontario, Canada (LAVs)
  
• ITT Aerospace/Communications in Fort Wayne, IN (SINCGARS, Night Vision)
  
• Harris Corporation in Rochester, NY (Radios)
  
• Raytheon Corporation in Tucson, AZ (PAS-13)

As the DSCA notes:

“The continuation of services under the SANG Modernization Program is an evolution of the SANG as an effective defensive force with the advice, assistance, and training of the U.S. Army… At present, there are approximately 250 U.S. Government personnel and 630 contractor representatives in country supporting the SANG modernization program… The proposed sale will also provide SANG with additional command, control, and communications equipment needed to operate in a secure communications environment that will facilitate the performance of its mission within Saudi Arabia… The radios will modernize equipment and provide the critical VHF and HF links necessary for a large fast moving force and integration with the SINCGARS radios SANG already has fielded in its Light Armored Vehicle and Light Infantry Brigades.”