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Saudi Arabia places major order for GDLS vehicles
Jeremy Binnie, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
19 February 2014
The latest variant of the LAV family is the LAV-H, seen here on display with additional defensive upgrades at the IDEX 2011 show in Abu Dhabi. Source: IHS/Patrick Allen
General Dynamics Land Systems Canada (GDLS-C) has won a major contract to supply vehicles to Saudi Arabia, Canadian International Trade Minister Ed Fast announced on 14 February.
Fast's office released a statement describing the deal as "a historic multibillion dollar contract win for vehicles and associated equipment, training and support services" and said it would last for 14 years.
GDLS-C makes the Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) family, including the US Army's Stryker, and has already supplied over 1,600 LAV variants to the Saudi Arabia National Guard (SANG) since 1992.
The statement indicated that the Saudi vehicles would be a new design, although possibly based on the existing LAV platform. "The light armoured vehicles will be designed and manufactured [in London, Ontario]," it said. It quoted GDLS-C Vice-President Danny Deep as saying: "This latest contract confirms our position as a leading armoured vehicle designer and manufacturer in the world."
When asked by CBC News how many vehicles would be delivered under the contract, Fast said: "They are not sure yet because there are some details of the contract that they cannot share with us. What we can say is that it is a multibillion dollar contract."
Other media organisations reported that the contract was worth USD10 billion and could increase to USD13 billion if all options are exercised. This would represent a major acquisition for Saudi Arabia, and suggests its armed forces will phase out one or more of its older types of armoured fighting vehicle.
Jeremy Binnie, London - IHS Jane's Defence Weekly
19 February 2014
The latest variant of the LAV family is the LAV-H, seen here on display with additional defensive upgrades at the IDEX 2011 show in Abu Dhabi. Source: IHS/Patrick Allen
General Dynamics Land Systems Canada (GDLS-C) has won a major contract to supply vehicles to Saudi Arabia, Canadian International Trade Minister Ed Fast announced on 14 February.
Fast's office released a statement describing the deal as "a historic multibillion dollar contract win for vehicles and associated equipment, training and support services" and said it would last for 14 years.
GDLS-C makes the Light Armoured Vehicle (LAV) family, including the US Army's Stryker, and has already supplied over 1,600 LAV variants to the Saudi Arabia National Guard (SANG) since 1992.
The statement indicated that the Saudi vehicles would be a new design, although possibly based on the existing LAV platform. "The light armoured vehicles will be designed and manufactured [in London, Ontario]," it said. It quoted GDLS-C Vice-President Danny Deep as saying: "This latest contract confirms our position as a leading armoured vehicle designer and manufacturer in the world."
When asked by CBC News how many vehicles would be delivered under the contract, Fast said: "They are not sure yet because there are some details of the contract that they cannot share with us. What we can say is that it is a multibillion dollar contract."
Other media organisations reported that the contract was worth USD10 billion and could increase to USD13 billion if all options are exercised. This would represent a major acquisition for Saudi Arabia, and suggests its armed forces will phase out one or more of its older types of armoured fighting vehicle.
