The State Department approved a possible $1.29 billion Foreign Military Sale (FMS) request to Saudi Arabia for air-to-ground munitions and associated equipment, parts and logistical support.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the potential sale on Nov. 13.
The requested FMS would include major defense equipment (MDE) of 1000 GBU-10 Paveway II Laser Guided Bombs (LGBs); 2,300 BLU-117/MK-84 2000lb General Purpose (GP) Bombs; 4,020 GBU-12 Paveway II LGBs; 8,020 BLU-111/MK-82 500lb GP Bombs; 1,100 GBU-24 Paveway III LGBs; 1,500 BLU-109 2000lb Penetrator Warheads; 400 GBU-31(V1) KMU-556 Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) tail kits; 1,000 GBU-31(V3) KMU-557 JDAM tail kits; 3,000 GBU-38 KMU-572 JDAM tail kits; 2,000 GBU-48 Enhanced Paveway II, dual mode Global Positioning System (GPS)/LGB with the MXU-667 Airfoil and the MAU-169L/B Computer Control Group (CCG) Dual mode; 2,000 BLU-110/MK-83 1000lb GP Bombs; 500 GBU-54 KMU-572 Laser JDAM tail kits, dual mode GPS/LGB with the MXU-667 Airfoil and the MAU-169L/B CCG Dual mode; 300 GBU-56 KMU 556 Laser JDAM tail kits, dual mode GPS/LGB with the MXU-667 Airfoil and the MAU-169L/B CCG Dual mode, and 10,200 FMU-152 Fuzes. The MDE value is estimated at $1.1 billion.
Non-MDE equipment and services under the sale includes procurement of bomb equipment components such as adaptors, nose plugs, fusing mechanisms, swivels, support links and connections; associated support equipment; publications, such as technical orders, and system manuals; training; engineering and technical support; transportation (to include special airlift support); program management; and other administrative support and related services.
The prime contractor for the sale will be determined by competition, DISCA said in a statement.
Saudi Arabia would use the equipment to replenish the Royal Saudi Air Force’s (RSAF) weapons supplies, which are becoming depleted due to a high operational tempo in several counter-terrorism operations. The purchase rebuilds war reserves and provides options for future contingencies, DSCA said.
The agency also highlighted how the FMS helps sustain military relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia. “This acquisition will help sustain strong military-to-military relations between the United States and Saudi Arabia, improve operational interoperability with the United States, and enable Saudi Arabia to meet regional threats and safeguard the world’s largest oil reserves,” DSCA said.
The sale also directly conveys U.S. commitment to the RSAF’s current and future ability to sustain combat operations.