The 2006 Saudi Shopping Spree: $2.9B to Upgrade M1 Abrams Tank Fleet
Also on this day: 01-Aug-2006 »
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On July 28, 2006, the US DSCA informed Congress [PDF format] that Government of Saudi Arabia wishes to purchase 58 M1A1 Abrams tanks, then upgrade these M1A1s along with its existing 315 M1A2 Abrams tanks to the M1A2S (Saudi) Abrams configuration. The sale will include kits, spare and repair parts, communications and support equipment, publications and technical data, personnel training and training equipment, contractor engineering and technical support services and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $2.9 billion. This contract also dovetails well with their recent $276 million Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Agreement, which ensures support and spare parts for their American-made land equipment.
This proposed M1 Abrams sale and upgrade program will be executed in 3 phases:
- PHASE 1: Engineering phase for 30 months;
- PHASE 2: Purchase of 58 M1A1s, and upgrade to M1A2S (Saudi) configuration. The Abrams Integrated Management (AIM) program was designed economically to rebuild and maintain the M1A1 Main Battle Tank (MBT) to a 'like new' condition to improve fleet readiness and reduce sustainment costs. The 58 M1A1s will undergo an 'AIM-like' process and will be upgraded to the M1A2S configuration in the United States;
- PHASE 3: Tear down of the 315 M1A2 Abrams in Saudi Arabia's tank fleet and upgrade to the M1A2S configuration. The 315 Saudi M1A2A MBT's will also undergo an 'AIM-like' process and will be re-configured to the M1A2S configuration. Vehicle teardown and final re-assembly will be accomplished in Saudi Arabia.
General Dynamics Land Systems of Sterling Heights, MI will be the prime contractor. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale, and implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of U.S. Government and contractor representatives to Saudi Arabia for up to 8 years. The exact number of representatives will be established during program definition between representatives of the United States Government and the purchaser.
The DSCA also reviews past US weapons land weapon sales to Saudi Arabia, noting that...
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We previously notified transmittal number 90-07 to Congress on 2 December 1989 of the possible sale of 315 M1A2A Abrams tanks, with ancillary weapons and equipment, 30 M88A1 recovery vehicles, 175 M998 [HMMWV jeep] utility trucks, other trucks, ammunition, and full logistics support for an estimated value of $725 million.
Transmittal number 90-78 was notified to Congress on 27 October 1990 for the possible sale of 150 M1A2 tanks, 200 Bradley Fighting Vehicle Family Systems (including TOW versions and 1,750 TOW IIA Missiles), 207 M113 Armored Personnel Carrier Family Vehicles, [including] 50 M548 Cargo Carriers; 17 M88A1 [Recovery Vehicles and] 43 M578 Recovery Vehicles, ammunition, and full logistics support for an estimated value of $3.2 billion.
Saudi Arabia has an unusual land forces structure whereby it has an "American brigade" (8th Armored Brigade) currently armed with US equipment like M1 Abrams tanks, M2 Bradleys et. al., and a "French brigade" (4th Armored Brigade) armed with French equipment including AMX-30 tanks, AMX-10P APCs, et. al. Indeed, Saudi equipment throughout its land forces tends to be a mixture of American and French equipment as a rule. This hedges against supplier continuity and creates wider markers for geopolitical favors, at the cost of increased maintenance burdens and potential logistical and interoperability headaches. The Tribune-
Libaniase's recent article "The Dynamics of Weapons Procurement in Gulf States" offers outstanding insight and background in this area.
There are rumors that the recently-signed memorandum of defense cooperation with France may also lead to an order of Leclerc main battle tanks et. al. to upgrade the "French brigade" alongside its American counterpart.
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