The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress Sept. 30 of a potential $1.7 billion Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia for a Patriot Air Defense System with PAC-3 enhancement and associated equipment and logistics.
The State Department has approved the proposed FMS.
Photo: Raytheon
If Congress approves the sale, the principal contractors would be Raytheon [RTN] and Lockheed Martin [LMT].
Although offsets are requested, they are unknown at this time and will be determined during negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the contractor, DSCA said in an Oct. 1 statement.
Saudi Arabia requests the potential sale of 202 Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC)-3 Missiles with containers, and one Guidance Enhanced Missile (GEM) Flight Test Target/Patriot as a Target.
Also included are two PAC-3 telemetry kits, six fire solution computers, 36 launcher station modification kits, two missile round trainers, two PAC-3 slings, six Patriot automated logistics systems kits, six shorting plugs, spare and repair parts, lot validation and range support.
The work would also include ground support equipment, repair and return, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, Quality Assurance Team, U.S.government and contractor technical and logistics support services, and other related logistics and program support.
The proposed sale will help replenish Saudi’s current Patriot missiles which are becoming obsolete and difficult to sustain due to age and the limited availability of repair parts, DSCA’s statement said. The purchase of PAC-3 missiles will support current and future defense missions and promote stability within the region. Saudi Arabia, which already has Patriot missiles in its inventory, will have no difficulty absorbing these additional missiles into its armed forces.