The State Department approved a possible $500 million Foreign Military Sale (FMS) request to Saudi Arabia for ammunition and associated equipment, parts, and logistical support for the Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF).

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the potential sale on July 29.

Seal of DSCA. Image: U.S. Department of Defense.
Seal of DSCA. Image: U.S. Department of Defense.

The requested FMS would include (1,000,000) 430/M430A1 40mm High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) cartridges’ (60,000) M456A1 105mm High Explosive Anti-Tank Tracer (HEAT-T) cartridges; (60,000) M107 155mm High Explosive (HE) projectiles; M62 7.62mm 4 Ball/1 Tracer Linked cartridges; .50 Cal Linked Cartridges (4 Armor Piercing Incendiary (API)/1 Armor Piercing Incendiary Tracer (API-T)), M792 25mm High Explosive Incendiary Tracer (HEI-T) Cartridges, M789 30mm High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) Cartridges, M889A2 81mm High Explosive (HE) Cartridges with M783 Fuzes, 2.75 Inch Rockets with M151 High Explosive (HE) Warhead and Point-Detonating (PD) Fuzes, 105mm High Explosive (HE) M1 Cartridges without Fuzes, M557 Point-Detonating (PD) Fuzes, M4A2 155mm Propellant Charges, M3A1 155mm Propellant Charges, M82 Percussion Primers, M1A2 Bangalore Torpedoes, M18A/M18A1 Claymore Mines, M67 Fragmentation Hand Grenades, and Guided Precision Aerial Delivery System (GPADS).

The sale would also include spare and repair parts, lot validation, publications and technical documentation, personnel training/training equipment, quality assurance team, U.S. government and contractor technical/logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support.

The primary contractor for GPADS would be Airborne Systems North America. The remaining items would be procured from a combination of Army stocks and new procurement. Principal contractors for the remaining items are unknown at the time of notification.

Saudi Arabia would use the equipment to resupply the RSLF with munitions needed to continue to protect its southern border from Houthi militia and Al-Qaida in the Arabian Peninsula forces, DSCA said in a statement.

Implementation of the FMS would not require additional U.S. government or contractor representatives to be assigned to Saudi Arabia but travel may be required for new equipment set up, training, and technical support. The number and duration required would be determined during contract negotiations.