Missile Launcher Contract Gives Hints to Saudi Arabia’s Naval Expansion
By: Sam LaGrone
Published: January 9, 2015 8:55 AM • Updated: January 9, 2015 8:55 AM
Published: January 9, 2015 8:55 AM • Updated: January 9, 2015 8:55 AM
A little noticed December contract award for the missile launchers used as part of the U.S. Navy’s Aegis Combat System gives hints to the direction of a potential $20 billion U.S. naval arms sale to Saudi Arabia.
Included in the initial $235 million award from Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA) — with options to increase the award to $356.79 million — to Lockheed Martin for an unspecified number of MK 41 Vertical Launching Systems included a contract option to set aside 26.3 percent of the funds — or about $93.8 million of the $356.79 million — for Saudi Arabian VLS.
“The MK 41 VLS provides a missile launching system for [Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruisers (CG-47)] and [Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer (DDG 51)] class surface combatants, surface combatants of allied navies, and Aegis Ashore requirements for the Missile Defense Agency’s Ground Ballistic Missile Defense Program,” read the Dec. 12 award announcement.
They are in wide use by U.S. allies around the world.
Capable of firing several missile types — most notably the Raytheon series of Standard Missiles — the system is on use on close to 190 ships in 19 classes, according to information from Lockheed Martin.
Saudis currently don’t use the MK 41, instead relying on a French system in their Al Riyadh-class of frigates
Officials with Lockheed Martin referred comment on the award to the Navy.
A spokeswoman with the Navy International Program Office (NIPO) told USNI News this week that, “it is not our policy to discuss the specifics of foreign military sales (FMS) cases.”
For almost seven years Saudi Arabia has been in negotiations with the U.S. to upgrade the Royal Saudi Navy’s Eastern Fleet, composed of aging American-built ships, as part of the Saudi Naval Expansion Program (SNEP II).
“This massive purchase could include destroyers, patrol craft, helicopters, ground vehicles and other platforms, as well as warehouses and substantial upgrades to port infrastructure. The requirements are still being developed, but recent estimates values the overall program at around $20 billion,” according to an October U.S. Army Corps of Engineers presentation.
Ship types the U.S. could sell to the Saudis include an anti-air warfare (AAW) capable version of the Freedom or Independence-class Littoral Combat Ship or a ballistic missile defense (BMD) capable Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer (DDG-51) have been mentioned as possible contenders for the SNEP-II combatant.
A Lockheed Martin concept for variations of the Freedom-class LCS design from corvette to Frigate sized hulls. Lockheed Martin Photo
Both LCS builders, Lockheed Martin and Austal USA, have said they have variants of their hulls that can accommodate a MK 41 and a smaller SPY-1F AAW radar.
http://news.usni.org/2015/01/09/missile-launcher-contract-gives-hints-saudi-arabias-naval-expansion
http://news.usni.org/2015/01/09/missile-launcher-contract-gives-hints-saudi-arabias-naval-expansion