US approves possible $525 mln arms sale to Saudi Arabia

The United States Department on Monday approved a possible $525 million military sale to Saudi Arabia for 74K Persistent Threat Detection System (PTDS) Aerostats and related equipment, training, and support.

The Saudi government has requested a possible sale of ten (10) 74K Persistent Threat Detection System (PTDS) Aerostats; fourteen (14) Ground Moving Target Indicator (GMTI) Radars; twenty-six (26) MX-20 Electro-Optic Infrared (EO/IR) Cameras; and ten (10) Communications Intelligence (COMINT) Sensors. It also includes a request for Mooring systems and Ground Control Systems.

“This sale will increase the Royal Saudi Land Force’s interoperability with U.S. forces and conveys U.S. commitment to Saudi Arabia’s security and armed forces,” the statement said.

“The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats and provide greater security for its critical infrastructure. Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing these systems into its armed forces,” it added.

The Pentagon is required to notify Congress of such potential sales, and has done so on Monday, the State Department said.

If the sale is implemented, it will require a US government or contractor representative to travel to the kingdom for about six years to provide equipment training and provide support for the new systems.

The State Department noted that this is only a potential sale, and that a prime contractor for the transaction is still unknown.

Write to Reem Abdellatif at reem.a@argaam.com