$60.5B Saudi Deal Unveiled

By Jason Sherman / October 20, 2010 at 7:09 PM

The Pentagon today notified Congress of a $60.5 billion package of potential arms sales to Saudi Arabia, a virtual bonanza for U.S. defense contractors that would feature 84 new F-15s and a fleet of 166 helicopters, including scores of attack and utility rotorcraft and associated gear, spare parts, and service support contracts.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which handles foreign military sales for the Pentagon, announced details of the potential deals in four separate statements.

The potential F-15SA deal -- worth $29.4 billion -- includes new aircraft as well as upgrades to the Royal Saudi Air Force's fleet of 70 F-15S aircraft to the F-15SA configuration, 170 Active Electronically Scanned Array Radar (AESA) sets, 193 F-110-GE-129 engines, and substantial inventory of weaponry including bomb, sophisticated missile, and precision guided munitions.

According to the DSCA statement:

For the past twenty years the F-15 has been a cornerstone of the relationship between the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and the RSAF. The procurement of the F-15SA, the conversion of the F-15S fleet to a common configuration, and the CONUS training contingent will provide interoperability, sustained professional contacts, and common ground for training and support well into the 21st century.

The F-15SA will help deter potential aggressors by increasing Saudi’s tactical air force capability to defend KSA against regional threats. The CONUS-based contingent would improve interoperability between the USAF and the RSAF. This approach will meet Saudi’s self-defense requirements and continue to foster the long-term military-to-military relationship between the United States and the KSA. Saudi Arabia, which currently has the F-15 in its inventory, will have no difficulty absorbing the F-15SA aircraft into its armed forces.

A second batch of aircraft, potentially worth $25.6 billion, would include 36 AH-64D Block III Apache helicopters, 72 UH-60M Black Hawk utility helicopters 36 HA-6i Light Attack Helicopters and 12 MD-530F Light Turbine Helicopters, according to the announcement. This deal could include trainers, simulators, munitions and assorted other equipment, according to the statement, which also says:

The Saudi Arabian National Guard will use the AH-64D for its national security and protecting its borders and oil infrastructure. The proposed sale will provide for the defense of vital installations and will provide close air support for the Saudi military ground forces. This sale also will increase the Saudi National Guard’s APACHE sustainability and interoperability with the U.S. Army, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and other coalition forces. Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing these helicopters into its armed forces.

In addition, DSC announced two additional potential sales, both for AH-64D Apache helicopters, one for 24 aircraft and associated equipment worth $3.3 billion, and a second for 10 aircraft and associated gear worth $2.2 billion.

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