Saudi Arabia would like to spend $177 million on a Foreign Military Sale (FMS) for missiles and support, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress Dec. 16.
Saudi Arabia has requested a possible sale for 2,742 BGM-71E-4B-RF Tube-Launched, Optically-Tracked, Wire-Guided (TOW-2A) Radio Frequency missiles (42 missiles are for lot acceptance testing), publications and technical documentation, and other related elements of logistics support.
The proposed sale will support efforts to modernize the Saudi Arabian National Guard (SANG).
Raytheon [RTN] would be the principal contractor. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
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.
The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia’s ability to meet and defeat current and future threats from enemy armored vehicles created by the development and fielding of first- and second- generation explosive reactive armor, DSCA said. Saudi Arabia will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense.
Saudi Arabia, which already has previous TOW missile variants in its inventory will have no difficulty absorbing the additional missiles.