US Clears Major Arms Sales to Saudi, Turkey

[HRK]

US Clears Major Arms Sales to Saudi, Turkey

WASHINGTON — The US cleared two major potential sales to Saudi Arabia and Turkey, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced Tuesday.

The Saudi government has requested $2 billion in upgrades for its E-3A airborne warning and control system (AWACS) aircraft. The Saudi military operates five of the command-and-control planes, produced by Boeing.

Upgrades include “Block 40/45 Mission Computing Upgrade systems, 20 Next Generation Identification Friend or Foe (NG IFF) AN/UPX-40, communication equipment, provisioning, spare and repair parts, support equipment, Mission Planning System, repair and return, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment.”

The sale would help “improve the security of a friendly country that has been and continues to be an important force for political stability in the Middle East,” DSCA said in its notice.

Boeing will be the principal contractor on the proposed deal. On Aug. 6, the company announced a $250 million agreement to upgrade NATO’s AWACS fleet.

The agency also cleared a possible sale to Turkey for 145 AIM-120C-7 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles missiles and associated equipment. That sale would be worth an estimated $320 million.

Those missiles will be used on the Turkish Air Force’s fleet of F-16 fighters, although the DSCA notice adds that they could also be used on the country’s eventual F-35 fleet.

The weapons will help “maintain the TAF’s air-to-air capability to defend its extensive coastline and borders against future threat,” according to DSCA. Raytheon would produce the equipment in its Tucson, Arizona, facility.

While both sales have now been cleared by the State Department, they are subject to congressional approval and further negotiations with the potential customers.

 

[Kaniska]

Why Turkey is buying so much of arms? Is Turkey has any enmity with its neighbor?

 

[AUz]

Goes to show how immense is the need for Muslim nations to develop and their own, high-tech, full fledged defence industries.

You buy weapons...and then the process start.

The foreign entities keep sucking money out of the "buyers" pockets in name of upgrades, repairs, MLUs and so on and on...

This is so embarrassing for all of us!

There countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Pakistan, Indonesia etc. needs to partner with each other and emerging nations like China...and try to establish indigenous defence capabilities.

Make your own weapons as much as possible...

 

[HRK]

Saudi Arabia – AWACS Modernization Program

PDF Version:

saudi_arabia_14-11.pdf
Media/Public Contact: pm-cpa@state.gov
Transmittal No: 14-11

WASHINGTON, Aug 12, 2014 – The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia for an AWACS modernization program and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support for an estimated cost of $2.0 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on August 12, 2014.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has requested a sale of 5 Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) Block 40/45 Mission Computing Upgrade systems, 20 Next Generation Identification Friend or Foe (NG IFF) AN/UPX-40, communication equipment, provisioning, spare and repair parts, support equipment, Mission Planning System, repair and return, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor logistics and technical support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The Block 40/45 major defense equipment includes new mission computing hardware and software with open architecture – including computers, servers, and mission interactive displays. The NG IFF major defense equipment includes receivers, interrogators and processor hardware for earlier detection of friendly contacts. The total estimated cost is $2.0 billion.

The proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and the national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been and continues to be an important force for political stability in the Middle East.

These upgrades are a continuation of efforts to maintain interoperability with U.S. and coalition forces. The Royal Saudi Air Force’s (RSAF) AWACS fleet provides early warning of potential airborne threats to Saudi Arabia and manages friendly airborne assets. The sale of this equipment and support will enhance the RSAF’s ability to effectively field, support, and employ this aircraft for the foreseeable future. The KSA has the ability to absorb and use the defense articles and services associated with the AWACS modernization effort.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the KSA.

The principal contractor will be The Boeing Company in Kent, Washington. There are no known offset agreements in connection with this potential sale.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

All questions regarding this proposed Foreign Military Sale should be directed to the State Department's Bureau of Political Military Affairs, Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, pm-cpa@state.gov.

Why Turkey is buying so much of arms? Is Turkey has any enmity with its neighbor?

just 145 AIM 120C-7 & you are considering it "so much of arms purchase" ..... ???

 

[XenoEnsi-14]

Why are we continuing supporting an Absolute Monarchy? We fought one only to support another?! We shouldn't interfere, nor should we support an Absolute Monarchy either.

Turkey is good to support.

 

[WishLivePak]

Goes to show how immense is the need for Muslim nations to develop and their own, high-tech, full fledged defence industries.

You buy weapons...and then the process start.

The foreign entities keep sucking money out of the "buyers" pockets in name of upgrades, repairs, MLUs and so on and on...

This is so embarrassing for all of us!

There countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Pakistan, Indonesia etc. needs to partner with each other and emerging nations like China...and try to establish indigenous defence capabilities.

Make your own weapons as much as possible...

Turkey has many good industries. But we as nations choose what is tried and success, or rely on historic success.

Turkey has good alternative to apache or cobra helicopters, but Pakistan will likely buy from US if it had money.

The way Turkish industries will improve is when they start making money by selling or selling to gov't.

 

[C130]

Goes to show how immense is the need for Muslim nations to develop and their own, high-tech, full fledged defence industries.

You buy weapons...and then the process start.

The foreign entities keep sucking money out of the "buyers" pockets in name of upgrades, repairs, MLUs and so on and on...

This is so embarrassing for all of us!

There countries like Turkey, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Pakistan, Indonesia etc. needs to partner with each other and emerging nations like China...and try to establish indigenous defence capabilities.

Make your own weapons as much as possible...

only if it was that simple

 

[Neptune]

Why the hell we have hell amount of AIM-120C-7 missiles when compared to all operators of the missile? The same for AIM-9X. I hope they finish the indigenous AA missile projects sooner.

 

[Oldman1]

Why the hell we have hell amount of AIM-120C-7 missiles when compared to all operators of the missile? The same for AIM-9X. I hope they finish the indigenous AA missile projects sooner.

Probably the reason you just pointed out. They haven't completed its own AA project.

 

[Neptune]

Probably the reason you just pointed out. They haven't completed its own AA project.

My actual question is, there's a major arms race in region. But in AA missiles, I even thought they might think to decrease it. Too many AA missiles jack. Idk

 

[Arabian Legend]

Old news hello. The upgrades of the Awacs has already been done.

Edit:

The current underway upgrade will be for computer systems and IFFs. This upgrades will enhance the RSAF AWACS capabilities raising it to the same level as the American block 40/50. The previous one was related to radar systems and electronic sensors. This is part of the RSI program.

E-3 Sentry (AWACS) Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP)
The AWACS Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP), referred to as "Sharpening the Eye of the Eagle," upgrades the radar capability of the AWACS. It effectively replaces equipment, some of which has been in the aircraft since they first took off more than 20 years ago, with modern radar technology. RSIP is a joint US/NATO development program that involves a major hardware and software-intensive modification to the existing radar system. When complete, the entire $1.2 billion project will have upgraded 32 US, 17 NATO and seven United Kingdom E-3 aircraft. During the spring of 1999, the first AWACS aircraft went through the RSIP Installation, and US installation of RSIP was scheduled for completion in fiscal 2004. The upgrade of all 32 operational AWACS was scheduled to be complete by February 2005. The E-3 Airborne Warning and Control System Program Office reached a major milestone by meeting the Required Assets Available [RAA] for the Radar System Improvement Program on 15 December 2000. RAA is declared when Air Force Materiel Command has provided the required aircraft, technical orders, training, spares, etc., to begin a trial period in which the 552nd Air Control Wing at Tinker AFB can determine if the capability is ready for combat.

RSIP enhances the operational capability of the E-3 radar electronic counter-measures, and dramatically improve the system's reliability, maintainability and availability. This hardware and software modification to the E-3 improves radar set performance providing enhanced detection of targets, with an emphasis toward those with a low radar cross section (RCS). Major advantages include: Increased range against reduced RCS targets to include cruise missiles; Improved electronic counter-counter measures (ECCM) against current threats; Improved radar system reliability and maintainability (R&M); and Improved radar control and maintenance panel (RCMP) with embedded test equipment. RSIP utilizes a Pulse Doppler Pulse Compression (PDPC) waveform, increases data sampling rates, increases range and velocity resolution, increases signal integration time, adds new signal processing algorithms to enhance detection sensitivity and unambiguous range determination, and improves radar set monitoring and control. RSIP is a huge leap forward in a variety of factors. It increases the ability to detect and track smaller targets at greater distances, akin to giving the radar a set of binoculars. It also improves the reliability and maintainability for the radar hardware, which decreases the number of spares and amount of down time needed for repairs. Improved control and processing algorithms tailored to current threat data enhances system electronic counter-countermeasure (ECCM) capabilities. The improved electronic counter-counter measures mean it will be much more difficult for enemy forces to deceive or "jam" the AWACS with false electronic signals.

The USAF RSIP IOT&E started its first sortie on August 3, 1995, but it was suspended when a major mishap damaged the radar components. Initial findings indicate that the failure was caused by a non-RSIP component but that the redesigned RSIP radar subsystem software had overridden safeguards. The radar was repaired, the software was modified, and IOT&E resumed with the first sortie successfully completed on October 12, 1995. The scheduled six-sortie IOT&E using Test System 3 was suspended because of deficiencies observed during the IOT&E. IOT&E again resumed in August 1996 and has been completed.

ESC's Program Office and Tinker's E-3 System Support Division at the Oklahoma City Air Logistic Center worked closely with Boeing, the prime contractor, and with Northrop Grumman, which designed and manufactured both the radar hardware and software. All the needed parts were produced and compiled into upgrade kits. Once the kits are delivered, it is up to the Aircraft Directorate Production Division of OC-ALC to actually install the equipment into the aircraft. When an aircraft is ready to be modified, the wing at Tinker pulls the aircraft off the flying schedule and sends it over to the depot side of the base. Once in the shop, the directorate's crew of avionics, electrical and sheet metal mechanics begin the 4,500 man-hour modification process. When complete, the aircraft is handed back to the wing for some final testing and then back into the operational schedule. Although the work is done at Tinker, some of the circuit cards installed during the aircraft modification actually come from non-RSIP spare parts that have been modified by the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center at Robins AFB, using something called BOP, or "bag-o-parts." The BOP is a kit of new resistors, wire, clips and other elements needed to modify a circuit card.

On 24 May 2001 the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale for the manufacture and integration of USAF/NATO Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP) modification kits for installation in the French E-3F AWACS aircraft fleet. The estimated cost was $190 million. The program included four RSIP modification kits, modification kit installation, system integration and ground/flight testing of the RSIP hardware, an RSIP modification kit for installation in a ground based support facility, system software development and installation, spare and repair parts, publications and technical documentation, support equipment, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and technical services, and other related program elements to ensure desired radar system performance.

In June 2005 the French Air Force declared the Initial Operational Capability (IOC) of its newly modernized French E-3F Airborne Warning and Control System aircraft. The AWACS Airborne Early Warning and Control Group's International French Team successfully managed this five-plus-year modernization effort. The team completed the Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP) kit integration ahead of schedule and on budget, according to Bob Paradiso, the team's leader. The Boeing Company, the system's prime contractor, along with their major subcontractors Northrop Grumman and Air France, had completed the RSIP modification for two of four French AWACS aircraft. The RSIP modification upgraded the radar's antenna, receivers, and transmitters and replaces the surveillance radar's existing computer with a new high-reliability multi-processor. It also improved the radar's electronic counter-countermeasures capability. The modification will also improve the plane's surveillance capability by increasing the precision of the pulse Doppler radar and will provide significantly improved detection and tracking of small targets.

 

[Halimi]

Off-topic, but @Arabian Legend @Bubblegum Crisis do you guys know what the breakdown of Saudi Arabia's military spending is like? How much goes where?

 

[Yzd Khalifa]

Off-topic, but @Arabian Legend @Bubblegum Crisis do you guys know what the breakdown of Saudi Arabia's military spending is like? How much goes where?

These information are withheld.