The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has approved five notifications of weapon sales to Congress, including 48 Chinook Cargo Helicopters for Saudi Arabia, Apache helicopters for the United Arab Emirates and TOW missiles for Morocco, according to reports.
The estimated cost for the Saudi purchase is $3.51 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on December 7, 2016.
Secretary of Defense Ash Carter hosts an enhanced honor cordon to welcome Saudi Arabia’s Deputy Crown Prince and Minister of Defense Mohammed bin Salman to the Pentagon June 16, 2016. The two leaders met to discuss matters of mutual importance. (DoD photo by Senior Master Sgt. Adrian Cadiz)(Released)
“The proposed sale of the CH-47F aircraft will improve Saudi Arabia’s heavy lift capability. Saudi Arabia will use this enhanced capability to strengthen its homeland defense and deter regional threats. Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing these aircraft into its armed forces,” the DSCA said.
The full list of requests by Saudi Arabia includes the possible sale of:
Major Defense Equipment (MDE):
-Forty-eight (48) CH-47F Chinook Cargo Helicopters
-One hundred twelve (112) T55-GA-714A Engines (ninety-six (96) installed, sixteen (16) spares)
-One hundred sixteen (116) Embedded Global Positioning System (GPS) Inertial Navigation
Systems (EGI) (ninety-six (96) installed, twenty (20) spares)
-Fifty-eight (58) AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems (CMWS) (forty-eight (48)
installed, ten (10) spares)
-Forty-eight (48) M240H 7.62mm Machine Guns with spare parts
Non-MDE:
This request also includes the following Non-MDE: M134D Mini-Guns or equivalent type guns with support equipment and training; Aircraft Survivability Equipment (AN/APR- 39A(V) l/4, AN/AVR-2B, AN/ARC-231, AN/ARC-201D, AN/APX-123A, ARN-147 VOR/ILS, ARN-153 TACAN, APN-209, IDM-401 Improved Data Modem, and AN/ARC-220); Infrared Signature Suppression System (IRSS); Fast Rope Insertion Extraction System (FRIES); Extended Range Fuel System (ERPS); Ballistic Armor Protection System; facilities; air worthiness support; spares and repair parts; communications equipment; personnel training and training equipment; site surveys; tool and test equipment; Ground Support Equipment (GSE); repair and return; publications and technical documentation; Quality Assurance Team (QAT); U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The total overall estimated value is $3.51 billion.
The DSCA says the proposed sale “will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner which has been and continues to be a leading contributor of political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. This sale will increase the Royal Saudi Land Forces Aviation Command’s (RSLFAC) interoperability with U.S. forces and advance the development of a heavy lift helicopter capability for Saudi Arabia. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
The prime contractors will be The Boeing Military Aircraft Company, Ridley Park, Pennsylvania, and Honeywell Aerospace Company, Phoenix, Arizona.
