State Department OKs $1.7 billion for Kuwait tank modernization

Following $8.6 billion in foreign military sales approvals for Middle Eastern nations last week, the State Department has permitted another potential sale of major defense equipment to a Gulf state.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency on Dec. 13 announced a potential $1.7 billion transaction for recapitalization of M-1 Abrams tanks for Kuwait. The agency notified Congress on Dec. 12.

The possible sale supports recapitalization of 218 M1A2 tanks by the government of Kuwait. The transaction would include 240 .50 caliber M2A1 machine guns, 480 7.62 mm M240 machine guns; 240 AN/VRC-92E SINCGARS radios; and 1,085 AN/PVS-7B Night Vision Goggles.

The transaction would also include “the incorporation of cooling system/thermal management systems; Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station (CROWS) II-Low Profile Stabilized Weapon Stations; special armor; 120 mm gun tubes; 2nd generation Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) sights; embedded diagnostics; gunner’s primary sights; Counter Sniper and Anti-Materiel Mount (CSAMM) hardware; upgrade/maintenance of engines and transmissions; depot level support; training devices; spare and repair parts; support equipment; tools and test equipment; technical data and publications; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support.”

The notice states that “Kuwait intends to use this equipment to recapitalize its fleet of M1A2 full track tanks in order to modernize and extend the service of the tanks.”

The principal contractors include General Dynamics Land Systems; the Joint Services Manufacturing Center in Lima, OH; Kongsberg Defense Systems; Raytheon; Lockheed Martin; Northrop Grumman; Meggitt Defense Systems; DRS Technologies; and Honeywell.