Saudi Arabia's Naval Capabilities Will Balloon Thanks To Huge U.S. Arms Deal

Ethan

عضو
إنضم
7 أبريل 2017
المشاركات
247
التفاعل
677 0 0


U.S. President Donald Trump will unveil the largest single American weapons sale to Saudi Arabia to date during his trip to the kingdom, which began on May 19, 2017. The deal will include weapons and equipment for the Royal Saudi air and land forces, which have been critical in Riyadh’s intervention in Yemen, as well as ballistic missile defense systems essential to for the country to counter Iran's missile forces during a conflict. However, it may be new support for the relatively small Royal Saudi Navy that speaks more to the country’s desire to project even greater power in the Middle East and beyond.

On May 18, 2017, published an insider’s look into how White House advisor Jared Kushner, who is also Trump’s son-in-law, had been actively involved in the arms sales, which many expect will be worth between $100 and $110 billion in immediate deals and up to $350 billion in total over the next decade. In particular, Kushner had personally intervened, as is the style of the Trump administration, to get the Saudis a discount on components of the Terminal High Altitude Air Defense (THAAD) system – the same weapon the United States had very publicly earlier in 2017.

Also on May 18, 2017, confirmed that the Pentagon and their Saudi counterparts would finalize a $6 billion deal with Lockheed Martin for four modified versions of the company's Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship – six percent of the total U.S. arms package. The rest of the deal will include thousands of precision guided munitions, 50 CH-47 cargo helicopters, 60 smaller UH-60 transport choppers, 115 M1A2S Abrams tanks, among other items.

But buried among the palace intrigue and talk of advanced aircraft, precision guided munitions, and anti-ballistic missile defenses, was mention of unspecified “maritime assets” that the Saudi Arabia hoped to acquire from the United States. This would mean “ships” the authors explained, “so the Saudis can assume more of the burden of policing the Persian Gulf and Red Sea against Iranian aggression.”

The warships are the center-piece of the American-funded (SNEP II), which began in 2008. The United States, and the U.S. Navy in particular, supported in the 1980s, where the Saudi Arabia purchased a large fleet of modern naval vessels, ranging from frigates to small patrol boats, from the United States, France, the United Kingdom, and other countries. After this modernization project, Riyadh boasted the largest and best equipped naval force in the Persian Gulf region.


Jacques Lahitte via Wikimedia
The Al Makkah, one of Saudi Arabia's four Al Riyadh-class frigates.

These ships formed the core of the country’s naval forces more or less as they continued to exist three decades later. The Saudi Navy’s only addition since then was its purchase of four modified French La Fayette-class frigates, which it named the Al Riyadh class, in 2003. As of 2017, these nearly 15 year-old ships were the country’s most modern warships. These 4,650-ton vessels have launchers for Exocet anti-ship and Aster 15 surface-to-air missiles, along with four torpedo tubes, a helicopter and a 76mm main gun. The design has limited stealthy features to help make it less visible to enemy radars.

But what was state-of-the-art more than two decades ago is showing its age now. From the very beginning, SNEP II called for four all-new “frigate-like” surface combatants, with a displacement of approximately 3,500 tons. These would replace an equal number of older French-supplied Al Madinah-class ships that the Saudi Navy had received under the original SNEP. This portion of the program also proved to be especially troublesome.


USN
A standard Freedom-variant LCS

The initial requirements seemed relatively steep, with officials in Riyadh interested in a lightweight vessel that still had a radar and battle management capability similar to Lockheed Martin’s advanced Aegis system, including its powerful . In reality, “Aegis-like” really meant that it would have technology derived from that equipment.

Instead of the full-size SPY-1D radar, the new ships would have the SPY-1F variant specifically for frigates and corvettes, which had half the range of the standard unit. The COMBATSS-21, which included some components of the Aegis system, would link the radar to the ship’s other sensors and weapons.

Lockheed Martin produced both of these products. So, U.S. officials and company representatives proposed installing this equipment, along with a 16-cell Mk 41 vertical launch system (VLS), deck-mounted Harpoon anti-ship missile launchers, and SeaRAM close-defense systems, on a modified version of the firm’s Freedom-variant Littoral Combat Ship (LCS). The resulting warship became known as the Multi-Mission Surface Combatant (MMSC). In October 2015, the Saudis agreed to buy the ships. While at Foxtrot Alpha, The War Zone’s Tyler Rogoway wrote a into the precise capabilities of these planned ships.

The primary weapon for the ship's Mk 41 VLS would be RIM-162 Evolved Sea Sparrow Missiles, "quad-packed" four to each of the 16 launch cells, for area air defense against both aircraft and cruise missiles. The latest version of the SM-2 was another potential option, which would offer even longer range, but less plentiful, anti-air and even anti-surface capabilities.


Joseph Trevithick
A model of a the Freedom-variant frigate Lockheed Martin has offered to the U.S. Navy, similar to the proposed MMSC.

Unfortunately, according to three months later, the Saudi Navy had become horrified at the expected price tag, which unnamed sources said was between $750 million and $1 billion per ship. In addition, Lockheed Martin told the Saudis it would take up to seven years to deliver the first example. By that point, SNEP had been running for nearly a decade and the officials in Riyadh had already moved ahead with a separate to buy 10 MH-60R helicopters and associated weapons and equipment, another part of the SNEP II plan.

It seems impressive that the Saudis have been willing to pay even more in the end for the ships, suggesting they may come with new and improved capabilities over the original design proposal, or it could just be a symptom of the changing political winds in Washington.

The Saudi's purchase of the ships will be important for the U.S. Navy, since the they will likely fund development of a drastically upgraded LCS variant—one that includes area air defense capabilities—that many, including some members of Congress, have been pushing the Navy towards procuring instead of a far less capable . Sharing the burden with the Saudis in crafting the new configuration would not only offset development costs, but if the Navy were to also buy the ship, it would push the unit cost down overall.

Otherwise, Much of the rest of the Saudi naval modernization program has already been sorted out or is otherwise already in progress. In July 2013, the Pentagon alerted Congress about a potential sale of 30 , each armed with a single 27mm cannon and various smaller weapons, as well as associated spare parts, training support, and other items. That whole package was worth approximately $1.2 billion.


barracuda via Wikimedia
Venezuela's Avante 2200 corvette Guaiquerí.

In January 2016, Spanish shipyard Navantia said it was working with the Saudis to develop a version of its . These ships, which also have limited stealth characteristics, would meet Riyadh’s requirement for six 2,200-ton ships. At the time, only Venezuela operated a variant of this ship, the , which had a 76mm gun, a 35mm automatic cannon, and two .50 caliber machine guns. These vessels also had radar, electro-optical sensors, and electronic warfare equipment. A helipad at the rear could accommodate a helicopter such as the MH-60R, another thing Saudi Arabia was looking to purchase through SNEP II. However, it is unlikely the United States would offer to pay for the purchase of a foreign vessel.

Other elements of SNEP II included three maritime patrol aircraft and anywhere from 30 to 50 unmanned surveillance aircraft. The Pentagon might be keen to try and sell the Saudis on Boeing’s , which they have previously. Insitu’s ScanEagle or RQ-21 Blackjack drones, both of which the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps have actively used aboard ships and on land, would be good options for the sort of drone officials in Riyadh seem to be looking to buy.

In 2016, through other foreign military sales contracts, Riyadh had secured support to expand boat ramps and piers to make room for SNEP II ships at King Abdul-Aziz Naval Base in Jubail along the Persian Gulf. In addition, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers managed construction contracts for other facilities ashore, including a new headquarters for the Saudi naval special operations elements. Two years earlier, the U.S. Navy had begun farming out work to expand the Saudi Navy’s command and control communications network. In the 1990s, the U.S. military had helped the Saudis migrate over to the Global Command and Control System-Maritime, which improved their ability to coordinate with American naval forces. It is possible that the 2017 military assistance plan will include more funding for construction and other support projects.


DOD
An aerial view of King Abdul-Aziz Naval Base in 1990.

Regardless, Saudi Arabia is likely to have decided it couldn't afford to wait much longer to get the ships into production. As SNEP II has progressed, the character of the Persian Gulf has changed significantly. More than anything, Saudi Arabia has had increasing tensions with a resurgent Iran while officials in Tehran have made improving and expanding their military a priority to do its best to ward off any challengers.

What this means is that Iranian forces now have a significant posture on the other side of the Persian Gulf. In February 2017, the U.S. Office of Naval Intelligence published a public report on Iran’s naval and coastal defense elements. It included a map highlighting that Iranian land-based anti-ship cruise missile batteries could reach much of Saudi Arabia’s northeastern coastline and had coverage in depth throughout the rest of the strategic waterway. On top of that the Iranian Navy and the country’s parallel Iranian Revolutionary Guards Corps Navy had significant numbers of small, missile-armed corvettes and fast attack craft, mine-layers, and semi-submersibles and traditional submarines of various sizes.

This increasing threat of smaller or underwater craft overwhelming Saudi Arabia’s aging warships hasn’t gone unnoticed. During the Iran-Iraq, Iranian forces targeted Saudi and Kuwaiti tankers moving Iraqi oil. At the time, the Saudi Navy was still modernizing and could do little to protect the ships, relying instead on American forces to guard the shipments during what became known as the " ."

Since 2007, Iran has made repeated threats to close of the narrow Strait of Hormuz, which leads out of the Persian Gulf into the Gulf of Oman and out into the Indian Ocean. Doing so would significantly limit Saudi Arabia’s ability to export oil and related products, which are the country’s lifeblood. Though doing so would touch off an international incident, Iran might be able to do significant damage to regional economies before the crisis ended.


AP
Iranian forces fire a Ghader land-based, anti-ship cruise missile.

In addition, Tehran has made a number of high profile, if often laughable naval sojourns out of the Persian Gulf, seeking to project its power into the Mediterranean Sea and Indian Ocean, going as far south as . If the Saudis decide they want to try and match these expeditionary missions, they’ll definitely want additional, blue-water capable warships.

Since 2015, the government in Riyadh has been fighting a complicated and brutal war of attrition against Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen, which I've previously . These forces have access to both ballistic and anti-ship cruise missiles, as well as more unconventional capabilities including and boats, as well as .

As the Saudis and their allies, have attempted to blockade the flow of weapons and other supplies into Yemen, the dangers have become increasingly visible. In October 2016, a rebel cruise missile from the United Arab Emirates. Afterwards, militants fired more anti-ship missiles in the area, which they see as aligned with the Saudi-led coalition, though they failed to do any damage. Then, in January 2017, Yemeni militants successfully rammed what appeared to be an into the Al Madinah, killing two Saudi sailors.

For Saudi Arabia, it has to be relatively clear that new naval capabilities are essential to confront what the Pentagon refers to as “anti-access/area-denial” capabilities. Additionally, the Saudis are coming to terms with the reality that they have to keep open, plus the need to have a stronger, more persistent presence in the Persian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Aden and the Red Sea. With this in mind and with so much Saudi treasure having been spent on the Saudi Air Force and Army, as well as the country’s Praetorian Guard-like Saudi Arabian National Guard, it’s the Royal Saudi Navy’s turn to replenish its fleet with fresh U.S. weaponry.

 
Congratulations, Saudi Arabia seems to be in a very rapid development, a huge armament worth these billions really, and the most obvious thing is that the Saudis were able to convert the LCS to MMSC :b
 
Congratulations, Saudi Arabia seems to be in a very rapid development, a huge armament worth these billions really, and the most obvious thing is that the Saudis were able to convert the LCS to MMSC :b
Congratulations, Saudi Arabia seems to be in a very rapid development, a huge armament worth these billions really, and the most obvious thing is that the Saudis were able to convert the LCS to MMSC :b


Saudi Arabia has a very strong air force. But the Saudi navy lacks combat destroyers armed with cruise missiles against ground targets with a range of more than 700 km
 
The West does not want Saudi Arabia to have excellent missile capabilities. So we have to have DDG-51 US destroyers. Armed with cruise missiles anti - ground targets with a range of more than 500 km. Or I hope to go to China where you can buy destroyers by arming full of long-range cruise missiles
 
The West does not want Saudi Arabia to have excellent missile capabilities. So we have to have DDG-51 US destroyers. Armed with cruise missiles anti - ground targets with a range of more than 500 km. Or I hope to go to China where you can buy destroyers by arming full of long-range cruise missiles
I don't think the Chinese missiles are good enough for the US air defense. However, Saudi Arabia can have long-range missiles but the decision is in the hands of the Saudis themselves. Saudi Arabia can participate in manufacturing these missiles by buying stakes from these companies.
Chinese Navy is a clone of the US Navy and European but the quality is much less, I don't think this is
good
:استريح:
 
It is good that Saudi Arabia has entered into a partnership with Raytheon, but the most important question is whether Saudi Arabia will equip its ships with AMDR ? :b

I don't think China has such a technology:)
amdr-infographic-lg.jpg
 
It is good that Saudi Arabia has entered into a partnership with Raytheon, but the most important question is whether Saudi Arabia will equip its ships with AMDR ? :b

I don't think China has such a technology:)
amdr-infographic-lg.jpg

ربما الصين لاتمتلك قدرات تكلونوجيا افضل من امريكا
لكنها تمتلك تكلونوجيا جيده لاباس فيها
لكن الصين تستطيع بيع ل العربيه السعودية مدمرات حربيه مسلحه بصواريخ جواله مضاده ل الاهداف الارضيه

بمدى اكثر من 700 كم

المدمرات ذات تسليح بصواريخ جواله تستطيع ان تعمل اغراق صاروخي على بطاريات الدفاع للعدو

وتعمل ثغرات فيها

تستطيع ان تستهدف اهداف ارضيه من مسافه كبيره وامنه


لذلك افضل الصين على امريكا كاتسليح المدمرات لاني اعلم بان امريكا لن تكون كريمه مثل الصين
 
ربما الصين لاتمتلك قدرات تكلونوجيا افضل من امريكا
لكنها تمتلك تكلونوجيا جيده لاباس فيها
لكن الصين تستطيع بيع ل العربيه السعودية مدمرات حربيه مسلحه بصواريخ جواله مضاده ل الاهداف الارضيه

بمدى اكثر من 700 كم

المدمرات ذات تسليح بصواريخ جواله تستطيع ان تعمل اغراق صاروخي على بطاريات الدفاع للعدو

وتعمل ثغرات فيها

تستطيع ان تستهدف اهداف ارضيه من مسافه كبيره وامنه


لذلك افضل الصين على امريكا كاتسليح المدمرات لاني اعلم بان امريكا لن تكون كريمه مثل الصين
Oh really ? Do you think it is that simple?
You don't seem concerned about technology like the Russians, but can these missiles penetrate the capabilities of the US air defense system? I'm not talking about a video game, what are these missiles that will cause loopholes in the system? If you are talking about the numerical density of the missiles, I don't think it is more than the air defense missiles on the ground, from the first missile fired by your fleet of Chinese ships that should cut off contact with it because it will turn a flaming metal box, a fleet unable to repel the hostile attack on the HQ system. He has failed through experiments and has no real achievements
In addition, can the radars in those ships really detect the missiles ?:;:

حقا ؟ هل تعتقد أنه بهذه البساطة؟
لا يبدو أنك تشعر بالقلق إزاء التكنولوجيا مثل الروس، ولكن هل يمكن لهذه الصواريخ اختراق قدرات نظام الدفاع الجوي الأمريكي؟ أنا لا أتحدث عن لعبة فيديو، ما هي هذه الصواريخ التي من شأنها أن تسبب ثغرات في النظام؟ أن كنت تتحدث عن الكثافة العددية للصواريخ أنا لا أعتقد هي أكثر من صواريخ الدفاع الجوي الموجودة على الأرض، من اول صاروخ يطلقه اسطولك المكون من سفن صينية يجب ان تقطع الاتصال معه لأنه سوف يتحول علبة معدنية ملتهبة ، أسطول غير قادر على صد الهجوم المعادي بنظام HQ الذي فشل خلال تجارب ولا يوجد له اي انجازات حقيقية
أضف إلى ذلك ، هل هل تستطيع الردارات الموجودة في تلك السفن رصد الصواريخ حقا ؟ :;:
 
التعديل الأخير:
Oh really ? Do you think it is that simple?
You don't seem concerned about technology like the Russians, but can these missiles penetrate the capabilities of the US air defense system? I'm not talking about a video game, what are these missiles that will cause loopholes in the system? If you are talking about the numerical density of the missiles, I don't think it is more than the air defense missiles on the ground, from the first missile fired by your fleet of Chinese ships that should cut off contact with it because it will turn a flaming metal box, a fleet unable to repel the hostile attack on the HQ system. He has failed through experiments and has no real achievements
In addition, can the radars in those ships really detect the missiles ?:;:

حقا ؟ هل تعتقد أنه بهذه البساطة؟
لا يبدو أنك تشعر بالقلق إزاء التكنولوجيا مثل الروس، ولكن هل يمكن لهذه الصواريخ اختراق قدرات نظام الدفاع الجوي الأمريكي؟ أنا لا أتحدث عن لعبة فيديو، ما هي هذه الصواريخ التي من شأنها أن تسبب ثغرات في النظام؟ أن كنت تتحدث عن الكثافة العددية للصواريخ أنا لا أعتقد هي أكثر من صواريخ الدفاع الجوي الموجودة على الأرض، من اول صاروخ يطلقه اسطولك المكون من سفن صينية يجب ان تقطع الاتصال معه لأنه سوف يتحول علبة معدنية ملتهبة ، أسطول غير قادر على صد الهجوم المعادي بنظام HQ الذي فشل خلال تجارب ولا يوجد له اي انجازات حقيقية
أضف إلى ذلك ، هل هل تستطيع الردارات الموجودة في تلك السفن رصد الصواريخ حقا ؟ :;:


انا لا اريد ان اخترق الدفاعات الجويه الامريكيه لانها ليست عدوه لي بل حليف وصديق

اتكلم عن دول تعتبر عدوه للعربية السعوديه مثل ايران وغيرها
 
انا لا اريد ان اخترق الدفاعات الجويه الامريكيه لانها ليست عدوه لي بل حليف وصديق

اتكلم عن دول تعتبر عدوه للعربية السعوديه مثل ايران وغيرها
انا لا أعتقد ان إيران دولة بالفعل , إن كانت السعودية تتسلح من أجل إيران , كان يجب ان توقف صفقات التسليح منذ 15 عاما .
لا أعتقد أيران عدو يستحق النظر إليه , مقارنة بالقوة العسكرية السعودية .
 
انا لا أعتقد ان إيران دولة بالفعل , إن كانت السعودية تتسلح من أجل إيران , كان يجب ان توقف صفقات التسليح منذ 15 عاما .
لا أعتقد أيران عدو يستحق النظر إليه , مقارنة بالقوة العسكرية السعودية .

امريكا الاقوى بالعالم مع ذلك لم تتوقف عن تطوير اسلحتها
مع انها اقوى من روسيا والصين بسنوات طويله

-----
العربيه السعوديه اذا قررت الهجوم على ايران
سوف ترسل مقاتلاتها الحربيه مسلحه بصواريخ كروز سلامر وستورم شادو
مع طائرات الاواكس E-3 والحرب الالكترونيه والتشويشRE-3

لكن لو كانت تمتلك مدمرات مسلحه بصواريخ كروز ل الاهداف الارضيه بمدى اكبر من 700كم

سوف ترسل العشرات الصواريخ الجواله على البطاريات الدفاعيه الايرانيه مثل S-300
من مسافه كبيره وامنه

وعند حدوث ثغرات بالانظمه الدفاعيه الايرانيه
سوف ترسل سرب من مقاتلات F15SA / Eurofighter Typhoon
 
امريكا الاقوى بالعالم مع ذلك لم تتوقف عن تطوير اسلحتها
مع انها اقوى من روسيا والصين بسنوات طويله

-----
العربيه السعوديه اذا قررت الهجوم على ايران
سوف ترسل مقاتلاتها الحربيه مسلحه بصواريخ كروز سلامر وستورم شادو
مع طائرات الاواكس E-3 والحرب الالكترونيه والتشويشRE-3

لكن لو كانت تمتلك مدمرات مسلحه بصواريخ كروز ل الاهداف الارضيه بمدى اكبر من 700كم

سوف ترسل العشرات الصواريخ الجواله على البطاريات الدفاعيه الايرانيه مثل S-300
من مسافه كبيره وامنه

وعند حدوث ثغرات بالانظمه الدفاعيه الايرانيه
سوف ترسل سرب من مقاتلات F15SA / Eurofighter Typhoon

الحرب اختلفت الان بوجود المنظومات المتطوره
الان لاتوجد دوله ترسل اسراب مقاتلاتها للهجوم
بالبدايه ترسل العشرات العشرات من الصواريخ الجواله على الانظمه الدفاعيه للعدو

حتى لاتخسر الكثير من مقاتلاتها بالهجوم
 
الحرب اختلفت الان بوجود المنظومات المتطوره
الان لاتوجد دوله ترسل اسراب مقاتلاتها للهجوم
بالبدايه ترسل العشرات العشرات من الصواريخ الجواله على الانظمه الدفاعيه للعدو

حتى لاتخسر الكثير من مقاتلاتها بالهجوم

Saudi Arabia can have long-range missiles but the decision is in the hands of the Saudis themselves. Saudi Arabia can participate in manufacturing these missiles by buying stakes from these companies.
:استريح:
 

Britain should give Tomahawk missiles from its 60-missiles arsenal to Saudi Arabia

A gift to mark the good relationship between the two countries

:D
 
Britain should give Tomahawk missiles from its 60-missiles arsenal to Saudi Arabia

A gift to mark the good relationship between the two countries

:D
I hope so, especially after the UK leaves the EU, it is better to look for broader partnerships outside of Europe, just like the United States did.
584bd45ac46188256f8b45b3.jpg
 
Lockheed Martin Plays Major Role In Strengthening United States And Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia Ties To Bolster Global Security

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, May 20, 2017 / / -- Today the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) took major steps to enhance global security and stimulate economic progress in the United States and the Middle East. KSA has expressed its intent to procure more than $28 billion worth of Lockheed Martin integrated air and missile defense, combat ship, tactical aircraft and rotary wing technologies and programs.


"At Lockheed Martin, we are proud to be part of this historic announcement that will strengthen the relationship between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," said Lockheed Martin Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Marillyn Hewson. "We are especially proud of how our broad portfolio of advanced global security products and technologies will enhance national security in Saudi Arabia, strengthen the cause of peace in the region, and provide the foundation for job creation and economic prosperity in the U.S. and in the Kingdom. These agreements will directly contribute to His Majesty's Vision 2030 by opening the door for thousands of highly skilled jobs in new economic sectors."

The announcement includes:

  • Letters of Offer and Acceptance and a Memorandum of Intent covering government-to-government sales of Lockheed Martin programs to include integrated air and missile defense systems, multi-mission surface combatant ships, radar systems, surveillance systems, tactical aircraft and rotary wing programs.
  • A Letter of Intent, between Lockheed Martin and Taqnia, to form a joint venture to support final assembly and completion of an estimated 150 S-70 Black Hawk utility helicopters for the Saudi government. The program supports work for more than 450 U.S. jobs including in Connecticut at Sikorsky and throughout the U. S. supply chain and also supports KSA's Vision 2030 by creating an additional 450 jobs in the Kingdom, developing local capabilities through technology and skills transfer, thus enhancing the U.S.-Saudi global security partnership.
  • A Memorandum of Understanding between Lockheed Martin and Saudi Arabian Military Industries for the parties to work together to build defense capabilities in the KSA to support Vision 2030 and provide for localization efforts associated with Multi-mission Surface Combatants and Aerostats.
Once fully realized, the programs in this announcement will support more than 18,000 highly skilled jobs in the U.S. and thousands of jobs in Saudi Arabia as part of maintaining and modernizing these platforms over the next 30 years. These programs help the Saudi government realize its Vision 2030 objective of building its domestic technology capabilities and skilled workforce.

 
ش
Lockheed Martin Plays Major Role In Strengthening United States And Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia Ties To Bolster Global Security

RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, May 20, 2017 / / -- Today the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) took major steps to enhance global security and stimulate economic progress in the United States and the Middle East. KSA has expressed its intent to procure more than $28 billion worth of Lockheed Martin integrated air and missile defense, combat ship, tactical aircraft and rotary wing technologies and programs.


"At Lockheed Martin, we are proud to be part of this historic announcement that will strengthen the relationship between the United States and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia," said Lockheed Martin Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer Marillyn Hewson. "We are especially proud of how our broad portfolio of advanced global security products and technologies will enhance national security in Saudi Arabia, strengthen the cause of peace in the region, and provide the foundation for job creation and economic prosperity in the U.S. and in the Kingdom. These agreements will directly contribute to His Majesty's Vision 2030 by opening the door for thousands of highly skilled jobs in new economic sectors."

The announcement includes:

  • Letters of Offer and Acceptance and a Memorandum of Intent covering government-to-government sales of Lockheed Martin programs to include integrated air and missile defense systems, multi-mission surface combatant ships, radar systems, surveillance systems, tactical aircraft and rotary wing programs.
  • A Letter of Intent, between Lockheed Martin and Taqnia, to form a joint venture to support final assembly and completion of an estimated 150 S-70 Black Hawk utility helicopters for the Saudi government. The program supports work for more than 450 U.S. jobs including in Connecticut at Sikorsky and throughout the U. S. supply chain and also supports KSA's Vision 2030 by creating an additional 450 jobs in the Kingdom, developing local capabilities through technology and skills transfer, thus enhancing the U.S.-Saudi global security partnership.
  • A Memorandum of Understanding between Lockheed Martin and Saudi Arabian Military Industries for the parties to work together to build defense capabilities in the KSA to support Vision 2030 and provide for localization efforts associated with Multi-mission Surface Combatants and Aerostats.
Once fully realized, the programs in this announcement will support more than 18,000 highly skilled jobs in the U.S. and thousands of jobs in Saudi Arabia as part of maintaining and modernizing these platforms over the next 30 years. These programs help the Saudi government realize its Vision 2030 objective of building its domestic technology capabilities and skilled workforce.


Deals announced so far

Assembling 150 Black Hawk helicopters
Purchase of Thad battery systems unknown number
Purchase of aircraft P-8 unknown number
Buy 4-6 ships

The rest of the other deals have not been announced
 
عودة
أعلى