The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of Blanket Order Training and related equipment for an estimated cost of $500 million.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification of both these sales notifying Congress.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to buy blanket order aviation training services for the Royal Saudi Land Forces Aviation Corps (RSLFAC) from the U.S. Army. The following non-MDE items will be included: initial through advanced rotary-wing flight and maintainer training for personnel of the (RSLFAC) under sponsorship of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). The training will be conducted by U.S. Army instructors on the AH-64E Apache, CH-47F Chinook, UH-72A Lakota, and UH-60L/M Black Hawk Helicopters.
The proposed sale will enhance Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing initial through advanced aviation operator and maintainer training for the safe and professional operation of the RSLFAC’s U.S.-procured helicopter fleet. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing the training into its Armed Forces.
This training will be provided at various CONUS based U.S. Army training sites under sponsorship of the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC). At this time, the U.S. government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. government or contractor representatives to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The U.S. State Department has also made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Arrangement Program, Foreign Military Sales Order II Case and related equipment for an estimated cost of $500 million.
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested to buy a Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Arrangement (CLSSA) Foreign Military Sales Order (FMSO) II case to requisition orders for centrally managed spares and repair parts. This case supports the Royal Saudi Land Forces Aviation Corps’ utility helicopters; AH-64A/D/E Apache attack helicopters; CH-47F Chinook cargo helicopters; Schweizer 333 helicopters; and Aerial Scout helicopters; and other related elements of logistics and program support.
The proposed sale will enhance Saudi Arabia’s ability to effectively maintain and operate their U.S.-procured helicopter fleet. This will allow better integration with U.S.-led coalitions and operate independently in support of U.S. interests and the security of U.S. forces in theater and is consistent with U.S. bilateral and multilateral defense plans in the Central Command region. Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its Armed Forces.
There are no principal contractors involved with this potential sale. At this time, the U.S. government is not aware of any offset agreement proposed in connection with this potential sale. Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. government or contractor representatives to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification of both these sales notifying Congress.
Source: Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA); File Photo: UH-60 Black Hawk © iStock via Getty Images)
