General Dynamics [GD] Land Systems recently said it was awarded two contracts with a combined value of $42.4 million for Saudi Arabia’s tank program.
The contracts, valued at $12.6 million and $29.8 million, respectively, will provide materials and labor for the conversion of 102 M1A2 tanks to an M1A2S configuration. The M1A2S conversion will increase the efficiency and capability of the tank.
This work is part of a plan by Saudi Arabia to upgrade its entire fleet of 314 Abrams tanks.
Current employees at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima, Ohio will perform the work. The estimated completion of 60 tanks is expected by Aug. 30, 2012, and 42 tanks will be finished by Sept. 30, 2012.
This contract continues work started in 2008 to design, develop, convert, implement and test a hybrid configuration of the M1A1, M1A2 and M1A2 System Enhancement Package (SEP) tank variants for Saudi Arabia. Earlier this year, General Dynamics received two similar contracts for Saudi tank upgrade work.
These most recent contracts were awarded by the U.S. Army TACOM Lifecycle Management Command on behalf of the Royal Saudi Land Forces.