Posted on Aug 15, 2016
Saudi Arabia Requests US Tanks, Vehicles for $1.15 Billion
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WASHINGTON — Saudi Arabia has requested to buy General Dynamics Land Systems-made M1A2S Abrams tanks and M88A1/A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift Evacuation System (Hercules) Armored Recovery Vehicles (ARV) in a foreign military sale worth approximately $1.15 billion, according to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency statement Tuesday.
Congress was notified yesterday of the possible sale, which the State Department has approved. The notice does not mean the sale has been concluded.
The kingdom’s request includes up to 153 M1A1/A2 tanks for conversion to 133 M1A2S Saudi Abrams-configured main battle tanks, along with 20 replacements for vehicles damaged in battle.
The Saudi Arabian government also wants 20 Hercules ARVs.
In addition to the vehicles, Saudi Arabia is requesting 153 M2 .50 caliber machine guns, 266 7.62mm M240 machine guns and 153 smoke grenade launchers.
The order would also include driver vision enhancers and night vision devices for the Abrams and rounds of training and live ammunition, among other items like binoculars and camouflage netting.
“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 from the DSCA 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.”
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Twitter: @JenJudson
Congress was notified yesterday of the possible sale, which the State Department has approved. The notice does not mean the sale has been concluded.
The kingdom’s request includes up to 153 M1A1/A2 tanks for conversion to 133 M1A2S Saudi Abrams-configured main battle tanks, along with 20 replacements for vehicles damaged in battle.
The Saudi Arabian government also wants 20 Hercules ARVs.
In addition to the vehicles, Saudi Arabia is requesting 153 M2 .50 caliber machine guns, 266 7.62mm M240 machine guns and 153 smoke grenade launchers.
The order would also include driver vision enhancers and night vision devices for the Abrams and rounds of training and live ammunition, among other items like binoculars and camouflage netting.
“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 from the DSCA 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.”
Email: [login to see]
Twitter: @JenJudson
Saudi Arabia Requests US Tanks, Vehicles for $1.15 Billion
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Saudi Arabia
Tanks
Saudi Arabia Tanks
Posted >1 y ago
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Thanks for sharing the news SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL that Saudi Arabia has requested to buy 153 M1A1/A2 tanks for conversion to 133 M1A2S Saudi Abrams-configured main battle tanks, along with 20 replacements for vehicles damaged in battle. The Saudi Arabian government also wants 20 Hercules ARVs. In addition to the vehicles, Saudi Arabia is requesting 153 M2 .50 caliber machine guns, 266 7.62mm M240 machine guns and 153 smoke grenade launchers.
Of course the OSD tagline is very reassuring :-)
"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 from the DSCA 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.”
Hopefully if the deal goes through we will be sending export models without our latest SIGSEC, OPSEC etc.
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) CW5 Charlie Poulton CSM Charles Hayden SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT Forrest Stewart SGT Robert Hawks SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright
Of course the OSD tagline is very reassuring :-)
"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 from the DSCA 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.”
Hopefully if the deal goes through we will be sending export models without our latest SIGSEC, OPSEC etc.
COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Stephen C. Capt Seid Waddell CW5 (Join to see) CW5 Charlie Poulton CSM Charles Hayden SGM David W. Carr LOM, DMSM MP SGT SFC William Farrell SSgt Robert Marx SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4" SSgt (Join to see) TSgt Joe C. SGT John " Mac " McConnell SP5 Mark Kuzinski SGT Forrest Stewart SGT Robert Hawks SPC (Join to see) SrA Christopher Wright
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SSgt Robert Marx
Those arms would be used in direct support of the Yemeni war the Saudis are conducting. The fact that the Saudi kingdom hates Israel and could possibly supply forces to that end should cause us to second guess the sale. Coupled with their anti-American bias, possible 9/11 connection, and their support of terrorism should definitely cause a void on the sale. The Saudis are no friend of America and an enemy for Zionism.
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LTC Stephen F.
SSgt Robert Marx - since the 1970's at least the USA has been training, equipping and modernizing the Saudi National Guard which is their army.
One of the reasons Bin Laden and al-Qaeda hated Saudi Arabia is that they allowed infidels names us to have large bases in their kingdom.
Remember that God is in control. The Saudis hate Israel; but, they love themselves more and have more than enough enemies on the Arabian peninsula. The Sunni versus Shia issues are more prominent in Saudis Arabia's international calculus right now
One of the reasons Bin Laden and al-Qaeda hated Saudi Arabia is that they allowed infidels names us to have large bases in their kingdom.
Remember that God is in control. The Saudis hate Israel; but, they love themselves more and have more than enough enemies on the Arabian peninsula. The Sunni versus Shia issues are more prominent in Saudis Arabia's international calculus right now
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Somewhere there is a company in the US Army and USMC PRAYING this goes through so they can stop PMCSing vehicles older than their CSM and in some cases haven't moved much in equal time. I don't like to sell it to SA, but hey, some SA here, Israel there, some Stan here, lost there, found again but now fighting your own stuff, Gotta love the US being the Lords of War.
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A dollar here, a dollar there. We need to sell something that America can still produce!
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