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LAV-25 in Combat
The Saudi Arabian National Guard is receiving a lot of investment. In July 2006, the Saudis formally tabled a multi-billion dollar request to buy LAV wheeled APCs and related equipment for its National Guard. October 2010 added a slew of added requests, covering a wide range of transport, scout, and attack helicopters. Other contracts in between and since have involved missiles, communications, and training. It all adds up to a fairly comprehensive modernization.
Who is the SANG, and why are they a globally significant institution? A must-read article in the Tribune-Libanaise explains:
“The [Saudi] National Guard’s importance is that it was created to protect the royal regime and its interests, including protecting strategic sites such as oil installations. The National Guard is made up of two separate forces: a large group of 60,000 men and a smaller core force of 20,000 men originating from Bedouin tribes such as the Otaiba and Qahtani, who can be mobilised quickly. The men of the core force are called the “White Army,” a name given to them because they wear the white robes of the Bedouin. As the Head of the National Guard, Prince Abdallah has been able to win the backing of the tribes, something that the Sudairis in principle do not have. However, basic recruitment of core units is fraught with inter-ethnic and tribal rivalries. Few men are recruited from the Hijaz region, one that has been opposed to the Sauds since they came to power in the 1920s and 1930s.”
Contracts & Key Events2014
Buys: Huge LAV contract, Huge TOW missile contract, 24 AH-6is, UH-60M long-lead; AH-6i flies in production configuration.
Boeing on AH-6i
April 29/14: AH-6i. Boeing in Mesa, AZ receives a $234.7 million unfinalized contract covering 24 AH-6i armed scout helicopters, the initial spares package, and ground support equipment for Saudi Arabia. $115 million is committed immediately.
IHS Jane’s confirms that this is the AH-6i’s 1st sale, as Jordan has yet to make good on its Letter of Intent. The AH-6i Letter of Agreement for 36 machines was reportedly signed on Feb 13/12, but phases, numbers, and prices remained to be negotiated. This purchase appears to clarify comments from Lynn Tilton of MD Helicopters that the type’s initial order would be for 24, with more to follow. Beyond Saudi Arabia, Boeing is reportedly targeting AH-1 Cobra operators. Many of whom received daylight-capable surplus American aircraft at a discount, and they may not be able to afford a full replacement like the AH-1Z or AH-64E.
Work will be performed in Mesa, AZ with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/16. US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL manages the contract on behalf of their Saudi FMS client (W58RGZ-14-C-0082). See also IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly, “Boeing awarded AH-6i contract for Saudi Arabia” | Aviation Week Farnborough, “Boeing Readies Saudi AH-6i, Eyes More Customers”.
24 AH-6i armed scout helicopters
Aug 28/14: UH-60M. Sikorsky in Stratford, CT receives a $33.6 million sole-source contract, covering initial spares and aviation ground support equipment for 24 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters in support of the Saudi Arabian National Guard. Note that previous announcements add up to only 20. All funds are committed immediately.
Work will be performed North Haven, CT with an estimated completion date of March 9/17. The US Army in Redstone Arsenal, AL acts as Saudi Arabia’s FMS agent (W58RGZ-14-C-0068).
Aug 19/14: UH-60M. Sikorsky in Stratford, CT receives a $30.3 million contract modification for 12 UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters, on behalf of the Saudi Arabian National Guard. All funds are committed immediately. This appears to be an initial award, with a follow-on to come that will modify the helicopters for Saudi use (q.v. March 25/13, Dec 20/13), and bring total announced SANG UH-60M sales to 24 of 72 requested (q.v. Oct 20/10) machines.
The estimated completion date is Aug 31/17. Work will be performed in Jupiter, FL and Stratford, CT. US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL manages the order on behalf of its Saudi client (W58RGZ-12-C-0008, PO 0072).
May 1/14: AH-6i. Boeing flies its AH-6i armed scout helicopter for the first time in its production configuration, performing basic maneuvers during the 20-minute flight. They add: “Future tests will expand the flight envelope over the next several months.” Translation: these helicopters won’t be operational in Saudi service any time very soon. Sources: Boeing, “Boeing Flies Production Configuration AH-6i Light Helicopter for the 1st Time”.
April 23/14: TOW me. Raytheon announces:
“An international customer signed an agreement with the U.S. Government for a foreign military sale (FMS) of tube-launched, optically tracked, wireless-guided (TOW) missiles to be supplied by Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) in a deal valued at approximately $750 million.
Raytheon plans to deliver nearly 14,000 TOW missiles to the customer over a three-year period beginning in 2015. A resulting order is expected to be executed by the U.S. government with Raytheon in the coming weeks.”
Do they mention the customer? No, they don’t. Are there any other customers with pending orders for “nearly 14,000 TOW missiles” (q.v. Dec 5/13)? No, there aren’t. Keeping the one secret while advertising the other is irrational. Then again, anyone who was willing to give DID $750 million would be allowed to be be irrational. Sources: Raytheon, “International customer signs agreement with USG valued at $750 million for Raytheon’s TOW missiles”.Raytheon plans to deliver nearly 14,000 TOW missiles to the customer over a three-year period beginning in 2015. A resulting order is expected to be executed by the U.S. government with Raytheon in the coming weeks.”
14,000 TOW missiles
USMC LAV-ATs
Feb 14/14: LAVs. The Canadian government announces a huge contract, and lets slip that it’s from Saudi Arabia in the footnotes. Mr. Fast led trade missions to the Saudi kingdom in 2012 and 2013, so he has cause to be pleased, but he may have missed the nuance that Saudi Arabia is generally reticent about its military buys. Even if it is a tremendously timely order for GDLS Canada, which will keep the plant and its supply chain open as US Stryker (LAV-III) purchases wind to a close:
“The Honourable Ed Fast, Minister of International Trade, and Danny Deep, Vice President, General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada, announced today a historic multi-billion dollar contract win for vehicles and associated equipment, training and support services. The announcement was made in London, Ontario, where the light armoured vehicles will be designed and manufactured and which will become the epicentre of a cross-Canada supply chain directly benefiting more than 500 local Canadian firms. This 14-year contract will create and sustain more than 3,000 jobs each year in Canada, with southern Ontario accounting for approximately 40 percent of the supply base.”
To clear up any confusion about jurisdictions: The contractor is General Dynamics Land Systems, which is an American firm subject to US government export laws and approval requirements. At the same time, the state-run Canadian Commercial Corp. handles all exports from Canadian firms, even if they’re subsidiaries like GDLS-Canada.There’s no official corporate release yet, but General Dynamics has described the deal to reporters as $10 billion, which could rise to $13 billion if all options are exercised. That’s far bigger than Oct 4/07 and June 13/11 DSCA requests for new vehicles (total: about $1 billion) can account for. Nor do purchases for the Saudi Arabian National Guard make up much of the difference. GDLS-Canada announced a $2.2 billion deal on Nov 24/09 for 724 LAV-II 8×8 wheeled armored personnel carriers, in 10 different variants, which exactly matched a July 20/06 Saudi DSCA request.
The Saudis already had a substantial fleet of LAV vehicles in their military branches. It seems very likely that a support contract covering all Saudi LAV fleets going forward is a big part of this deal, along with all LAVs requested to date and perhaps more. It is possible for the Saudis to order vehicles as a Direct Commercial Sale. DCS still requires approvals, but doesn’t require the same announcements, and would make the Saudis fully responsible for managing the buy. Sources: Foreign Affairs, Trade and Development Canada, “Largest Advanced Manufacturing Export Win in Canada’s History” | Reuters, “General Dynamics Canada wins Saudi deal worth up to $13 billion”.
Huge LAV deal
Feb 5/14: Saudi Arabia. Raytheon in McKinney, TX receives a $16.3 million firm-fixed-price, foreign military sales contract for 22 modified improved target acquisition systems for the Royal Saudi Land Forces SWORD program, and 3 for the Saudi Arabian National Guard. A seemingly-related FBO.gov solicitation describes SWORD as:
” WITHIN THE FMS CASE, ON LINE ITEM 012 NOTE 36, SWORD DIRECTED THE PURCHASE OF LIGHT ARMORED VEHICLE-ANTI TANK (MOD) (LAV-AT(M)) WITH THE MITAS.”
LAV-ATs use under-armor TOW missiles, and improving them with ITAS modified for those vehicles delivers a lot of bang for the buck. Bids were solicited via the Web, with 1 received. Work will be performed in McKinney, TX, and the estimated completion date is June 30/15. Work will be managed by US Army Contracting Command in Warren, MI as the Saudis’ agent (W56HZV-14-C-0066).2012 – 2013
Buys: AH-64 attack, UH-60M medium utility, and MD-530F light utility helos; Firing range upgrades; DSCA: a ton of TOW missiles; Training and support request.
TOW 2B
Dec 20/13: UH-60Ms. Sikorsky in Stratford, CT receives a $105.3 million contract modification to contract “to modify 8 UH-60M Black Hawk Helicopters to a General Service Configuration in Support of the Saudi Arabian National Guard.” The contract number indicates that these machines are purchases under the MYP-8 multi-year deal, which explicitly allows other countries to take advantage of American volume pricing. Essentially, they’re buying 8 UH-60Ms as an initial order under the Oct 20/10 DSCA request to export up to 72 machines.
One bid was solicited with one received. Work will be performed in West Palm Beach, FL and in Saudi Arabia. US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL acts as the Saudis’ agent (W58RGZ-12-C-0008, PO 0089).
Dec 5/13: TOW missiles. The US DSCA announces that Saudi Arabia has requested export clearance to buy 13,935 TOW missiles: 9,650 BGM-71E TOW-2A RF wireless missiles, 91 TOW-2A Buy-to-Fly test missiles, 4,145 BGM-71F TOW-2B Aero wire-guided missiles, and 49 TOW-2B Buy-to-Fly test missiles. Plus containers, spare and repair parts, support equipment, tools and test equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, and other US government and contractor support.
The TOW-2As have a nose spike to help penetrate reactive armor or walls, and have a published range of around 4 km/ 2.5 miles. The TOW 2B Aeros lose the spike, add more range, and rely on a top-attack mode using twin EFP (explosively-formed penetrator) warheads, but these missiles continue to use the old trailing wire guidance. This top-attack mode is somewhat useful against soft targets, but the nature of EFPs mean that they are far best used against armored vehicles.
The estimated cost is up to $900 million, and the principal contractor will be Raytheon Corporation of Tucson, AZ. Saudi Arabia, who already fields TOW missiles, won’t need any additional personnel in country for support. The DSCA adds that:
“The proposed sale will support the Ministry of the National Guard’s defense and counter-terrorism missions… [and] improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet and defeat current and future threats from enemy armored vehicles.”
Saudi Arabia’s neighbor Bahrain requested these same missiles in late 2011, but they were withheld by the US State Department following the government’s crackdown on protesters. Saudi Arabian forces played a role in that crackdown, and the Saudi National Guard’s explicitly-referenced internal security role would seem to offer a parallel. The most interesting speculation belongs to StratRisks, who thinks the TOWs may be involved in a plan to transfer non-American anti-tank missiles (HOT, Bill 2, SS-11) to Syrian rebels, while replenishing Saudi stocks. Subsequent reports from USA Today, which discuss the shipment of TOW missiles to Syrian rebels and mention “Saudis or other Gulf Arab states” as the likely conduit, add fuel to the fire.Unlike Bahrain, however, seriously offending the Saudis carries really big costs to the US defense industry. Two weeks after the announcement, there isn’t a peep of Congressional opposition. Sources: DSCA, 13-57 | StratRisks
DSCA request: TOW missiles (13,935)
June 20/13: Support. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces Saudi Arabia’s official request for up to $4 billion in support services for the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) modernization program. This has been an ongoing program in Saudi Arabia (q.v. July 18/08, Jan 20/10 entries).
Services to be provided will include OPM-SANG operation, support and equipment, and Modernization Program support, personnel training and training equipment, transportation, repair and return, spare and repair parts, automation initiatives, SANG Health Affairs Program support, construction, communication and support equipment, publications and technical documentation, and other forms of US Government and contractor support.
The principal contractor will remain Northrop Grumman, though its subsidiary Vinell Arabia. Implementation won’t require any more people than the existing 250 U.S. Government personnel and 650 contractor representatives who are already in country.
DSCA request: Support & training
March 25/13: Saudi. Sikorsky in Stratford, CT receives a $49 million firm-fixed-price contract. This modification will provide engineering and configuration services to 4 utility helicopters for Saudi Arabia. The contract number indicates a MYP-8 purchase, and the amount indicates that there’s an accompanying base helicopter order still to come. There are ways that could be done outside the purview of standard contract announcements.
Work will be performed in Stratford, CT with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/16. One bid was solicited, with 1 bid received by US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL (W58RGZ-12-C-0008).
4 UH-60Ms?
March 8/13: Training. Lockheed Martin in Orlando, FL receives a $28.3 million firm-fixed-price contract to support of the SANG’s Live-Fire range modernization. They’ll upgrade existing ranges, and install trajectory tracking on newly constructed ranges. This is the kind of infrastructure that can make a real difference in a force’s effectiveness, if its personnel are diligent and its leadership is solid. Both of those requirements have been questioned by observers of the Saudi Army, but the SANG’s role makes it a different organization.
Work will be performed in Orlando, FL; Suwanee, GA; and San Diego, CA; with an estimated completion date of Dec 31/14. One bid was solicited, with one bid received by US Army Program Executive Office Simulation, Training & Instrumentation in Orlando, FL (W900KK-13-C-0038).
Military MD-530F
July 13/12: MD-530Fs. MD Helicopter in Mesa, AZ receives a $40.7 million firm-fixed-price contract, to buy MD 530F helicopters and related equipment for Saudi Arabia. This is the type’s 2nd military order, after Afghanistan ordered it as a training & utility platform, so the buy is significant to the company.
Saudi Arabia’s Oct 20/10 DSCA request had mentioned 12 MD-530Fs, which are designed to operate in the thinner air created by hot and/or high-altitude conditions. These helicopters are often used in policing and light utility roles, but they can be armed with light weapons. The SANG’s forthcoming AH-6is are more explicitly designed for the Armed Reconnaissance role.
Work will be performed in Mesa, AZ with an estimated completion date of July 30/13. One bid was solicited, with 1 bid received by US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL, on behalf of its Saudi Foreign Military Sale client (W58RGZ-12-C-0105).
MD-530F helicopters
Feb 13/12: SANG AH-6is. Boeing representatives tell reporters that Saudi Arabia signed a Letter of Agreement for 36 AH-6i light scout and attack helicopters “a few weeks ago.” The AH-6i were part of the Oct 20/10 DSCA request for its National Guard, and the next step involves negotiations on price and delivery schedules. If those are completed, it isn’t clear whether Saudi Arabia would be the type’s 1st customer. A Rotor & Wing report says that:
“Tilton can also see further military riches on the horizon as Boeing pushes the AH-6i into the world market as a mini-Apache “with attitude.” There is a first order of 24 aircraft with more to follow.”
The other country that has been publicly associated with the AH-6i is Jordan, who reportedly signed a Letter of Intent in 2010. AH-6i helicopter LoA
Jan 5/12: SANG AH-64s. Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control in Orlando, FL received a $66.6 million firm-fixed-price and cost-plus-fixed-fee contract. The award will provide for the procurement of AH-64D Apache M-TDAS/PNVS (“Arrowhead“) systems and spares for the Saudi Arabia National Guard. Work will be performed in Orlando, FL, with an estimated completion date of March 31/15. One bid was solicited, with 1 bid received by US Army Contracting Command in Redstone Arsenal, AL as the Saudi’s FMS agent (W58RGZ-11-C-0120).
This is one of several ancillary contracts supporting reports that Saudi Arabia has signed a deal to buy AH-64D Longbow Block III helicopters. That deal wasn’t announced publicly, so it isn’t 100% confirmed, and it isn’t clear which Saudi military branches were covered. Beyond the SANG’s interest in buying 36 Apache Longbow Block IIIs, the Royal Guard wanted 10, and the regular Army wanted to add 24 Block IIIs to its existing fleet of 12 Block IIs. See the Oct 20/10 DSCA request for more.
2011
Buys: LAV armored vehicles, TOW missile targeting systems, Vehicle intercomms; DSCA request: LAVs.
TOW w. ITAS sensors
June 25/11: Raytheon in McKinney, TX receives a $53.6 million firm-fixed-price contract for 78 Improved Target Acquisition System units. ITAS is a part of the targeting system on the missile-carrying LAV-AT, and is also used for BGM-71 TOW missiles carried by troops or mounted on other vehicles. The contract could rise to 115 ITAS units, if options of 12 units for the Saudi Arabian National Guard, and 25 units for the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Defense and Aviation, are exercised.
Work will be performed in McKinney, TX, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 30/13. One bid was solicited with one bid received by US Army TACOM’s Project Management Office Light Armored Vehicle in Warren, MI (W56HZV-11-C-0274).
TOW-ITAS buy
June 13/11: The US DSCA announces Saudi Arabia’s official request to buy up to 82 more LAV wheeled armored vehicles, plus associated equipment and support. The estimated cost is $350 million, but exact amounts will depend on the contract, if one is negotiated. In light of Saudi troops’ recent intervention in Bahrain at that government’s request, this bit from the DSCA was interesting:
“The proposed sale will improve the Saudi Arabian National Guard’s ability to effectively conduct security and counter-terrorism operations, and would serve to make a key strategic partner in regional contingency operations more capable of defeating those who would threaten regional stability and less reliant on the deployment of U.S. forces to maintain or restore stability in the Middle East.”
Prime contractors will include General Dynamics Land Systems in London, Ontario, Canada (LAVs), ITT Aerospace/Communications in Fort Wayne, IN (radios); Harris Corporation in Rochester, NY (radios); and Raytheon Corporation in Tucson, AZ (LAV-AT’s weapon system). Saudi Arabia already deploys many LAVs, and implementation of this sale will not require the assignment of any more U.S. Government or contractor representatives. Items requested include:- 25 LAV-25s, with 25mm cannon turrets
- 8 LAV-AG Assault Guns, with 90mm cannon turrets
- 8 LAV-AT Anti-Tank Vehicles, which carry BGM-71 TOW missiles
- 6 LAV-MS, with breech-loaded 120mm mortars and up to 40 rounds inside
- 3 standard LAV wheeled APCs, no turret
- 2 LAV-A Ambulances
- 24 LAV-C2 Command and Control Vehicles
- 3 LAV Ammo Carriers
- 2 LAV-R Recovery Vehicles, for towing stuck vehicles
- 1 LAV Engineer Vehicle, which can add bulldozer, mine plough, and other attachments
- AN/VRC 90E and AN/VRC-92E Export SINCGARS radios
DSCA request: more LAVs
June 3/11: MILES Training. Lockheed Martin in Orlando, FL receives a $38.3 million firm-fixed-price contract, to give the SANG its Multiple Integrated Laser System (MILES) instrumentation, and exercise control/after action review capabilities. MILES can be thought of as the grown-up, militarized ancestor of laser tag, with the laser carrying information about the shooter (soldier or vehicle), weapon and ammunition. That lets the target’s MILES system determine the results of a hit, if the match indicates that damage is possible, using semi-randomized algorithms. Kind of like “laser tag meets Dungeons & Dragons, on a cyber-date.”
Vehicles usually have a belt of laser sensors, while dismounted troops often wear the vest/harness plus helmet sensors that laser tag veterans know so well. Reference to exercise control/AAR functions indicates a real-time datalink allowing position and event data to be transmitted back to a central site, for review later.
The contract includes materials, manufacturing, integration, system validation and verification, delivery, government acceptance testing, and contractor logistics support to the Saudi Arabia National Guard. Work will be performed in Orlando, FL, and San Diego, CA, with an estimated completion date of May 31/13. One bid was solicited, with one bid received by the U.S. Army Program Executive Office of Simulation, Training and Instrumentation (PEO-STRI) in Orlando, FL, on behalf of its Saudi client (W900KK-11-C-0004).
May 3/11: Vehicle intercoms. It isn’t always easy to talk to troops or drivers inside armored vehicles, when your infantry is outside. But recent experiences in Iraq have shown that it’s a very important capability – especially in urban warfare. That’s why Northrop Grumman Systems Corp. in Linthicum Heights, MD received a $16.7 million firm-fixed-price contract for vehicle intercom communication, vehicle testing, a 10% spares reserve, and a contractor-provided field service representative for the Saudi Arabian National Guard.
Work will be performed in Linthicum Heights, MD, with an estimated completion date of Nov 31/13. One sole-source bid was solicited with one bid received. The U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., is the contracting activity (W15P7T-11-C-H609).
April 28/11: Raytheon Network Centric Systems in Dallas, TX receives a sole-source $25.5 million firm-fixed-price contract for driver’s vision enhancers and commander vision enhancers, as part of a Foreign Military Sale to the Saudi Arabian National Guard.
Work will be performed in Dallas, TX, with an estimated completion date of April 30/14. One sole-source bid was solicited with 1 bid received by U.S. Army CECOM at Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD (W15P7T-11-C-H608).
Jan 4/11: LAVs – SANG? GDLS SVP Dr. Sridhar Sridharan announces that U.S. Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command has awarded them a $138 million contract for 82 Light Armored Vehicles (LAVs) for “a Foreign Military Sale”. Further details are also murky, but what’s known is this: Vehicles provided under this contract will be the 300hp, 8×8 LAV II, with a base gross vehicle weight of up to 32,000 pounds/ 14,500 kg. The vehicles will be produced in 4 different variants, and vehicle deliveries will begin in January 2012. Since the LAVs are made in London, ON, Canada, the contract was signed through the Canadian Commercial Corporation, the Canadian government’s Crown Agency for military exports.
A December 2011 GDLS announcement re: a follow-on buy of 73 LAVs exactly matches a Royal Saudi Land Forces (regular army) DSCA request from June 13/11, while confirming that both contracts are destined for the same country. That establishes the buyer for this contract as Saudi Arabia with reasonable confidence, but tying this order to a specific request is harder. The July 2006 DSCA request for 724 SANG LAVs was filled by a contract announced on Nov 24/09. There is an SANG request for 82 LAVs, but it was made later, in June 13/11 LAV request that included up to 10 variants.
This may be a SANG contract, or it may be a partial fulfillment of an Oct 4/07 DSCA request for 126 LAVs and other vehicles, on behalf of the regular Saudi Land Forces.
2010
SANG requests are part of the $60 billion DSCA arms request landslide; Saudis buy wireless TOW-2A missiles; Award under SANG support contract.
Boeing’s AH-6 ARH
Oct 20/10: As part of Saudi Arabia’s $60 billion 2010 mega-request, the US DSCA announces Saudi Arabia’s formal request to buy helicopters, long-term support, and possibly even base construction for the SANG, worth up to $25.6 billion.
Implementation of this proposed sale will require approximately 900 contractor representatives and 30 U.S. Government personnel on a full time basis in Saudi Arabia, for a period of 15 years. Also, this program will require multiple trips to Saudi Arabia involving U.S. government and contractor personnel to participate in annual technical reviews, training, and one-week Program Reviews in Saudi Arabia.
Items requested include:
- 36 Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow Block III attack helicopters. This is the latest version, and Saudi Arabia could become its first confirmed export customer.
- 72 Sikorsky UH-60M Block Hawk Helicopters. The most current variant. Saudi neighbors Bahrain and the UAE have already ordered them.
- 36 Boeing AH-6i Light Attack Helicopters. A different branch of the same family tree that gave birth to the MD 530F. Nearby Jordan signed a Letter of Intent for the AH-6i in May 2010.
- 12 MD Helicopters MD-530F helicopters. Often used by law enforcement as an excellent light utility helicopter, though some countries operate militarized light attack variants. The 530F variant has longer rotor blades and other enhancements, so it performs better in the thinner air of hot or high altitude conditions. It doesn’t use MD’s patented NOTAR system.
- 243 T700-GE-701D turboshaft engines. The UH-60M and the AH-64D both use 2 engines for each helicopter.
- 40 Modernized Targeting Acquisition and Designation Systems/Pilot
- 20 AN/APG-78 Fire Control Radars with Radar Electronics Unit. The Apache Longbow’s mast mounted radar.
- 20 AN/APR-48A Radar Frequency Interferometer
- 40 Wescam MX-15Di (AN/AAQ-35) Sight/Targeting Sensors. Likely for the AH-6is.
- 52 30mm Automatic Weapons. AH-64D Apaches use ATK’s M230 chain gun.
- 40 GAU-19/A 12.7mm (.50 caliber) Gatling Guns. Can be used as door guns, or pylon-mounted on helicopters. Popular light helicopter weapon.
- 168 M240H Machine Guns. FN Herstal USA’s 7.62mm helicopter door guns, not used on Apaches.
- 421 M310 A1 Modernized Launchers. For Hellfire missiles.
- 158 M299 Hellfire Longbow Missile Launchers
- 2,592 AGM-114R Hellfire Missiles. The -114R is the most modern version, with a triple-threat blast, armor defeating, and fragmentation warhead.
- 171 of Northrop Grumman’s AN/APR-39 Radar Signal Detecting Sets
- 171 of Goodrich’s AN/AVR-2B Laser Warning Sets
- 171 of BAE’s AAR-57v3/5 Common Missile Warning Systems
- 318 Improved Countermeasures Dispensers
- 108 of EFW’s Improved Helmet Display Sight Systems. IHADSS is used by the Apache. The number involved indicates that they may have been picked for the AH-6is as well.
- 300 AN/AVS-9 Night Vision Goggles.
- 1,229 AN/PRQ-7 Combat Survivor Evader Locators (CSEL). Radios used by pilots, especially if they’re shot down.
- 18 Aircraft Ground Power Units.
- 4 BS-1 Enhanced Terminal Voice Switches
- 4 Digital Airport Surveillance Radars
- 4 Fixed-Base Precision Approach Radar
- 4 DoD Advanced Automation Service
- 4 Digital Voice Recording System
- Also included are trainers, simulators, generators, munitions, design and construction, transportation, wheeled vehicles and organization equipment, tools and test equipment, communication equipment, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) systems, GPS/INS, spare and repair parts, support equipment, personnel training and training equipment, publications and technical documentation, and U.S. Government and contractor support services. The Saudis usually require a lot of support from contractors, in part because it’s an opportunity for royal family members to take a cut.
UH-60M Test flight
The DSCA specifies the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) as the AH-64D recipient, but is less clear about the other helicopters. The implicit message is that they’re part of the same FMS case to the same military entity, and the SANG could certainly make good use of the UH-60Ms, AH-6is, and MD 530Fs for “the defense of vital installations and will provide close air support for the Saudi military ground forces.” The DSCA adds that this sale will improve the SANG’s “Apache sustainability and interoperability with the U.S. Army, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and other coalition forces.”
The prime contractors will be:
- Boeing in Mesa, AZ (AH-64D, AH-6i, CSEL)
- Lockheed Martin Corporation in Orlando, FL (Arrowhead, Hellfire IIs, launchers)
- Lockheed Martin Millimeter Technology in Owego, NY (Longbow system)
- Longbow LLC in Orlando, FL. A Lockheed/Northrop-Grumman joint venture (Longbow system)
- Sikorsky Aircraft West in Palm Beach, FL (UH-60M)
- MD Helicopters in Mesa AZ (MD 530F)
- General Electric Company in Cincinnati, OH (engines)
- ITT Aerospace/Communications in Fort Wayne, IN (night vision)
DSCA: Huge 2010 weapons request
July 18/10: Raytheon announces a $55 million contract to deliver TOW 2A RF (Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wireless-Guided) anti-armor missiles, as part of a foreign military sale to Saudi Arabia’s National Guard.
This will make Saudi Arabia one of the first TOW RF customers; most TOW missiles in arsenals around the world are still guided through the missiles’ unspooling wire. See also Dec 17/09 entry.
TOW-2A RF buy
Jan 20/10: Training & support. Northrop Grumman announces a 5-year contract to continue the modernization and training of the Saudi Arabia National Guard. The $550 million cost-plus-award-fee hybrid contract also contains fixed-fee and firm-fixed-price elements, and as a Foreign Military Sale contract it is managed through the US Army.
Under the terms of the contract, Northrop Grumman Technical Services subsidiary Vinnell Arabia LLC will provide U.S. Army-based doctrine and military training, as well as logistics and support services. Work will be performed throughout the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Training & support
2007 – 2009
Big LAV armored vehicle buy; DSCA export requests: major SANG support, TOW-2A missiles.
TOW-2A cutaway
Dec 17/09: TOW-2A. The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency announces Saudi Arabia’s official request to buy 2,700 of Raytheon’s BGM-71E-4B-RF TOW-2A Radio Frequency missiles, plus 42 missiles for lot acceptance testing), publications and technical documentation, and other related elements of support, under the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) modernization program. The estimated cost is $177 million, and the principal contractor would be Raytheon Corporation in Tucson, Arizona. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale, and its implementation will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Saudi Arabia.
The TOW 2A
The TOW-2A RF departs from the type’s standard wire-guided approach by replacing the unspooling wire in the missile’s rear with an encrypted radio link. The Canadian Army became the missile’s first customer in 2007, and because the wireless system is built into the missile and the missile case, TOW RF is compatible with all existing TOW 2-capable ground launchers – including Canadian LAV-TUA (LAV-AT) vehicles.
DSCA request: TOW-2A RF missiles (2,700)
LAV-M-Saudi
Nov 24/09: LAVs. General Dynamics Land Systems – Canada in London, Ontario announces a $2.2 billion Foreign Military Sale contract for initial work on 724 LAV-II 8×8 wheeled armored personnel carriers, in 10 different variants. While the destination country is not specified, the number exactly matches the July 20/06 Saudi request. Delivery will begin in 2011.
Dr. Sridhar Sridharan, senior vice-president of General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada:
“We are pleased to be working once again with TACOM and USASAC in support of their Foreign Military Sales program. This contract now allows us to immediately start work on variant design and production readiness. We look forward to reaching the manufacturing portion of this contract which will help us bring stability to our production workforce.”
See July 20/06 entry, and Large LAV buy.July 18/08: Support. The US DSCA announces Saudi Arabia’s formal request to buy up to $1.8 billion in equipment for the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG), covering the years 2009 through 2013. This includes training, professional military advice and assistance, management assistance, contract administration, construction oversight, transportation of equipment, personnel training and training equipment, LAV training, spare and repair parts, management of repair and return of components, automation program support, and other related elements of logistics support.
The principal contractor will be Vinnell Arabia Corporation of Herndon, VA. At present, there are approximately 215 U.S. Government personnel and 500 contractor representatives in country supporting the SANG Modernization Program.
DSCA request: Support & training
2006
DSCA requests: Radios, Lots of LAV armed vehicles.
AN/PVS-7: The View
Sept 27/06: The US DSCA announces Saudi Arabia’s official request to buy Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG) equipment. “The radios will provide the critical VHF and HF links necessary for a large fast moving force and integration with the SINCGARS radios SANG already has fielded in its Light Armored Vehicle and Light Infantry Brigades.” The request includes:
- 552 AN/VRC-90E Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems (SINCGARS) Vehicular Single Long-Range Radio Systems;
- 225 AN/VRC-92E SINCGARS Vehicular Single Long-Range Radio Systems Dual Long Range
- 1,214 AN/PRC-119 E SINCGARS Man-pack Single Long-Range Radio Systems Man-pack
- Vehicular installation kits, communications management system computers, antennas, programmable fill devices, support equipment; publications and technical data; personnel training and training equipment; contractor engineering and technical support services and other related elements of logistics support.
- ITT Aerospace/Communications Fort Wayne, Indiana
- Harris Corporation Rochester, New York
- Northrop Grumman Corporation Linthicum, Maryland
DSCA request: Radios
DSCA: Major LAV request
July 20/06: LAVs. The DSCA announces Saudi Arabia’s formal request for 724 Light Armored Vehicles (LAV) in a number of different variants, plus weapons, night-vision equipment, communications gear etc., in order to modernize the SANG. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $5.8 billion.
Congress didn’t take any action to block the sale, but progress took a while. When we talked to GDLS over a year later, in October 2007, they expected to complete a deal some time in 2008, but it took until November 2009 before a contract emerged. Variants requested at the time included:
- LAV-PC (personnel carrier)
- LAV-25 (personnel carrier with 25mm canon)
- LAV-A (Ambulance)
- LAV-AC (Ammunition Carrier)
- LAV-AG (Assault Gun with 90mm cannon)
- LAV-AT (Anti-Tank, pop-up turret carries TOW missiles)
- LAV-CC (Command & Control)
- LAV-E (Engineer, with bulldozer blade et. al.)
- LAV-M (81mm Mortar carrier – but there is a LAV-M(S) Saudi configuration, with a 120mm breech-loading mortar in a turret)
- LAV-R (Recovery, equipped with crane etc.)
- 162 84mm Recoilless Rifles (popularly known as bazookas). The well-known Carl Gustaf/MAAWS is an example of a modern 84mm recoilless rifle. It is made by Bofors of Sweden.
- 630 AN/PAS-13 Thermal Weapon Sights for soliders’ weapons
- 1,700 AN/AVS-7D Aviators binocular Night Vision Goggles (NVG). See DID’s NVG article.
- 432 AN/PVS-14 monocular NVG. See DID’s NVG article.
- 1,160 AN/VRC-90E Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio Systems (SINCGARS) vehicular single long-range radio systems
- 627 AN/VRC-92E SINCGARS vehicular single long-range radio systems
- 518 AN/VRC-119E SINCGARS vehicular single long-range radio systems
- 2,198 SINCGARS Spearhead handheld radios
As noted earlier, the total value if all options are exercised could be as high as $5.8 billion, with no industrial offset agreements. The principal contractors will be:
- General Dynamics Land Systems in London, Ontario, Canada (LAVs)
- ITT Aerospace/Communications in Fort Wayne, IN (SINCGARS, Night Vision)
- Harris Corporation in Rochester, NY (Radios)
- Raytheon Corporation in Tucson, AZ (PAS-13)
“The continuation of services under the SANG Modernization Program is an evolution of the SANG as an effective defensive force with the advice, assistance, and training of the U.S. Army… At present, there are approximately 250 U.S. Government personnel and 630 contractor representatives in country supporting the SANG modernization program… The proposed sale will also provide SANG with additional command, control, and communications equipment needed to operate in a secure communications environment that will facilitate the performance of its mission within Saudi Arabia… The radios will modernize equipment and provide the critical VHF and HF links necessary for a large fast moving force and integration with the SINCGARS radios SANG already has fielded in its Light Armored Vehicle and Light Infantry Brigades.”
https://www.defenseindustrydaily.co...e-a-hardened-networked-national-guard-02462/#
