State Department clears $1.15B tank FMS to Saudi Arabia

The State Department has approved a possible $1.15 billion foreign military sale of Abrams tanks and tank recovery vehicles to Saudi Arabia, according to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency statement.

The potential FMS includes 153 M1A1/A2 Abrams tank structures to be converted to 133 Saudi variants and 20 battle-damage replacements, as well as 20 M88A l/A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift Evacuation System (HERCULES) Armored Recovery Vehicles (ARV), the Aug. 9 notice states.

The prime contractor for the vehicles is General Dynamics Land Systems.

"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," the notice states. "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 sale also includes a variety of machine guns, grenade launchers, ammunition and other associated tank and HERCULES equipment and contractor support.