RSAF to Aquire AWACS Equipment & SNIPER pods

SaudiArabian

New Member
Saudi Arabia - Mission Equipment for AWACS Aircraft

WASHINGTON, December 7, 2007 – The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia of mission equipment for AWACS aircraft as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $400 million.

The Government of Saudi Arabia has requested a possible sale of five sets of Airborne Early Warning (AEW) and Command, Control and Communications (C3) mission equipment/Radar System Improvement Program (RSIP) Group B kits for subsequent installation and checkout in five E-3 Airborne Warning and Control Systems (AWACS). In addition, this proposed sale will include spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, contractor engineering and technical support, and other related elements of program support. The estimated cost is $400 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.

The proposed sale will enhance training opportunities; increase the Royal Saudi Air Force’s (RSAF) AWACS operational capability, sustainability, and interoperability with the USAF, Gulf Cooperation Council, and other coalition air forces. Saudi Arabia needs this additional mission equipment to continue its development of an extended Airborne Early Warning (AEW) capability, as well as enhanced command, control and communications (C3). Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing the upgraded AWACS radar capability into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractor will be Boeing Aerospace Company in Seattle, Washington.
There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of approximately four contractor representatives to Saudi Arabia to provide technical assistance to integrate the aircraft into the operational units. Also, this program will require U.S. government and contractor personnel to conduct annual, one-week Program Management Reviews in Saudi Arabia.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law; it does not mean that the sale has been concluded.



Saudi Arabia - AN/AAQ-33 SNIPER Targeting Pods

WASHINGTON, December 7, 2007 – The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia of AN/AAQ-33 SNIPER Targeting Pods as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $220 million.

The Government of Saudi Arabia has requested a possible sale of 40 AN/AAQ-33 SNIPER Advanced Targeting Pods, aircraft installation and checkout, digital data recorders/cartridges, pylons, spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, contractor engineering and technical support, and other related elements of program support. The estimated cost is $220 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.

The proposed sale will improve the operational capability of the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) by upgrading the long-range target detection and identification systems of the Saudi F-15s. The proposed sale will provide an upgraded capability of the RSAF’s existing 1980’s LANTIRN pod technology. This sale also will increase the RSAF AWACS sustainability and interoperability with the U.S. Air Force, the Gulf Cooperation Council countries, and other coalition air forces.

The proposed sale of a modern F-15 SNIPER targeting system will greatly improve the RSAF’s capabilities against offensive air force capabilities. Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing this improved system capability into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the region.
The prime contractor will be Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Company in Dallas, Texas. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of approximately four contractor representatives to Saudi Arabia to provide technical assistance to integrate the aircraft into the operational units. Also, this program will require U.S government and contractor personnel to conduct annual, one-week Program Management Reviews in Saudi Arabia.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law; it does not mean that the sale has been concluded.

DSCA
http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2007/Saudi_08-28.pdf
http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2007/Saudi_08-29.pdf
 

adam-alm

New Member
i wonder if congress will approve any of this to the Saudis?

You can do better than just wondering around. Try not to post one-liners (against DT rules) & put some matter into your posts so it could generate proper discussion.

-SABRE
 
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eaf-f16

New Member
The Sniper pods RSAF is getting for their Strike Eagles are supposed to be better than the targeting pods Israel has got installed on it's F-16/F-15I's.

Link

However, this acquisition does make precedence, as it is the first time that an Arab state receives advanced US hardware before Israel is provided with comparable or superior equipment. Israel is developing an indigenous targeting pod system, known as Litening IV but at the latest deliveries of F-16Is were equipped with earlier models of the system believed to be less capable than the Sniper.
 

SaudiArabian

New Member
  • Thread Starter Thread Starter
  • #4
it is the first time that an Arab state receives advanced US hardware before Israel is provided with comparable or superior equipment.
i think this is incorrect , F-15E (regardless of variant) was sold to KSA before israel had it , that was in the 90's
 

eaf-f16

New Member
i think this is incorrect , F-15E (regardless of variant) was sold to KSA before israel had it , that was in the 90's
Yeah, I knew that statement was incorrect not only becuase of what you said but also becuase the UAE's F-16's are more advanced than the Israeli F-16's except maybe in EW systems. I still think this good, though. It extends the life of Saudi Arabia's F-15E fleet. Also, the AESA-equipped F-15 "Super Eagle" is being marketed to current F-15 users and I saw an article that cited Saudi Arabia as a potential customer. I think this would be really good choice if the RSAF doesn't see any EF-2000 variants as good long-range strike platforms.
 
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