The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DDSCA) notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia of C4I system upgrades and maintenance and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $1.1 billion.
The Government of Saudi Arabia has requested a possible sale of C4I system upgrades and maintenance including: 109 Link-16 Multifunction Information Distribution System Low Volume Terminals (MIDS-LVT), Global Command and Control Systems – Joint (GCCS-J), Identification Friend or Foe (IFF), Commercial Satellite Communications (SATCOM), Combined Enterprise Regional Information Exchange System (CENTRIXS) and follow-on systems, Commercial High Frequency (HF) Radios, Commercial Ultra High Frequency/ Very High Frequency (UHF/VHF) Radios, HF Voice and Data, HF Sub-Net Relay (SNR), Commercial HF Internet Protocol (IP)/SNR, Global Positioning System (GPS), Air Defense System Interrogator (ADSI), communications support equipment, information technology upgrades, spare and repair parts, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and technical support, and other elements of program support. The estimated cost is $1.1 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, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East, according to DSCA.
The proposed sale will improve the Royal Saudi Naval Forces’ capability to maintain and upgrade its current C4I system, increase the ability of RSNF vessels and manpower to effectively protect Saudi Arabia’s coastal strategic assets, and keep pace with the rapid advances in C4I technology to remain a viable U.S. coalition partner in the region. The RSNF will use the upgraded C4I system to provide situational awareness of naval activity in the Persian Gulf and the Red Sea.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
There will be no principal contractors involved with this proposed sale. The acquisition and integration of all systems will be managed by the U.S. Navy’s Space and Naval Warfare Weapons Command (SPAWAR). There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of 14 U.S. Government and contractor representatives in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for ten years to support network design, acquisition, implementation, installation, and integration efforts.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.
Source: Defense Security Cooperation Agency – DSCA
