$6.8B in Weapons, Munitions and Support for Saudi Arabia before US Congress

Saudi Arabia – Various Munitions and Support
15 October, 2013 – Defense Security Cooperation Agency

Media/Public Contact: Lorna Jons Transmittal No: 13-49

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15, 2013 – The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress on Oct. 11 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia of various munitions and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $6.8 billion.

The Government of Saudi Arabia has requested a possible sale of 650 AGM-84H Standoff Land Attack Missiles-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER), 973 AGM-154C Joint Stand Off Weapons (JSOW), 400 AGM-84L Harpoon Block II missiles, 1000 GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB), 40 CATM-84H Captive Air Training Missiles (CATM), 20 ATM-84H SLAM-ER Telemetry Missiles, 4 Dummy Air Training Missiles, 60 AWW-13 Data Link pods, 10 JSOW CATMs, 40 Harpoon CATMs, 20 ATM-84L Harpoon Exercise Missiles, 36 SDB Captive Flight and Load Build trainers, containers, mission planning, integration support and testing, munitions storage security and training, weapon operational flight program software development, transportation, tools and test equipment, support equipment, spare and repair parts, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated total cost is $ 6.8 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 friendly country that has been and continues to be an important force for political stability in the Middle East.

This proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future regional threats. These munitions will strengthen the effectiveness and interoperability of the air force of a potential coalition partner, enhancing the coalition operation. In December 2011, Saudi Arabia signed a letter of offer and acceptance (LOA) to purchase 84 new and 70 refurbished F-15SA multi-role fighter aircraft and associated weapons. The armaments in this request are separate and distinct from those in the F-15SA LOA, but are intended for that platform. Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing these weapons into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of these weapon systems will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractors will be The Boeing Company in St. Louis, Missouri; Raytheon in Indianapolis, Indiana; and Raytheon in Tucson, Arizona. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this sale will require the assignment of approximately 2-4 additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Saudi Arabia. The actual number and duration will be determined in joint negotiations as the program proceeds through the development, production, and equipment installation phases. …more