The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for M1A2S Saudi Abrams Main Battle Tanks and M88Al/A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift Evacuation System (HERCULES) Armored Recovery Vehicles (ARV), equipment, training, and support. The estimated cost is $1.15 billion.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on August 8, 2016.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested a possible sale of up to one hundred fifty-three (153) M1Al/A2 Tank structures for conversion to one hundred thirty-three (133) M1A2S Saudi Abrams configured Main Battle Tanks and twenty (20) battle damage replacements for their existing fleet; one hundred fifty-three (153) M2 .50 Caliber Machine Guns; two hundred sixty-six (266) 7.62mm M240 Machine Guns; one hundred thirty-three (153) M250 Smoke Grenade Launchers; twenty (20) M88A l/A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift Evacuation System (HERCULES) Armored Recovery Vehicle (ARV) Structures for conversion to twenty (20) M88Al/A2 HERCULES ARVs; one hundred sixty-nine (169) AN/VAS-5 Driver Vision Enhancer-Abrams (DVE-A); one hundred thirty-three (133) AN/PVS-7B Night Vision Devices; four thousand two hundred fifty-six (4,256) Rounds M865 Training Ammunition; and two thousand three hundred ninety-four (2,394) Rounds M831Al Training Ammunition. Also included are M1Al/A2 Tank and M88Al/A2 ARV overhaul, conversion and refurbishment services; Special Tools and Test Equipment; Basic Issue Items; Program Management Support; Verification Testing; System Technical Support; Advanced Gunnery Training System (AGTS); Deployable Advanced Gunnery Training System (DAGTS); Transportation, Binoculars, Camouflage Netting; spare and repair parts; communications equipment; personnel training and training equipment; tool and test equipment; repair and return; publications and technical documentation; Quality Assurance Team (QAT); U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total estimated value is $1.15 billion.
This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic regional partner which has been and continues to be a leading contributor of political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. This sale will increase the Royal Saudi Land Force’s (RSLF) interoperability with U.S. forces and conveys U.S. commitment to Saudi Arabia's security and armed forces modernization.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia's capability to meet current and future threats and provide greater security for its critical infrastructure. The addition of these tanks and recovery vehicles to the RSLF’s inventory will enhance Saudi Arabia's ability to support its soldiers in the field and to defend the Kingdom’s borders. Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing these vehicles into its armed forces.
The principal contractor will be General Dynamics Land Systems (GDLS), Sterling Heights, Michigan. There are no known offset agreements in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Saudi Arabia. Support teams will travel to the country on a temporary basis.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.
