The proposed Foreign Military Sale covers up to 20,000 APKWS-II guidance sections, launch equipment, training and long-term technical support. The US Department of State has approved a potential $1.96 billion Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia covering Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems and associated equipment.
The proposed package includes up to 10,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II air-to-air guidance sections and a further 10,000 air-to-ground guidance sections. The sale must still proceed through the formal US Foreign Military Sales process before contracts and final quantities are confirmed.
Air-to-air and air-to-ground capability
Alongside the APKWS-II guidance sections, the proposed package includes LAU-131 A/A launchers, Mk-152 high-explosive warheads, Mk-66 rocket motors, proximity fuzes and WTU-1/B practice warheads.
It also covers inert rocket motors, testing equipment, launch and employment systems, spare and repair parts, technical documentation and transportation.
Training, engineering, technical assistance and logistics support from US government and contractor personnel are also included within the proposed agreement.
APKWS-II converts unguided rockets into precision-guided weapons through the addition of a laser-guidance section. The system is designed to provide a lower-cost precision engagement option for airborne platforms and can be configured for both air-to-ground and air-to-air applications.
According to the US Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, the proposed sale is intended to strengthen Saudi Arabia’s homeland defence capability and improve its ability to respond to current and future threats.
The package is also expected to improve interoperability between Saudi forces and the armed forces of the US, NATO members and other regional partners. It would support the Kingdom’s existing operational aircraft while expanding its air-to-air and air-to-ground self-defence capability.
BAE Systems named principal contractor
BAE Systems, based in Nashua, New Hampshire, has been identified as the principal contractor for the proposed sale.
Implementation would require the deployment of 15 additional US government representatives and 15 contractor personnel to Saudi Arabia for an extended period. Their responsibilities would include programme and technical reviews, training and maintenance support within the country.
No offset agreement has currently been identified, although any future arrangement would be determined through negotiations between Saudi Arabia and the contractor.
The US government stated that the proposed acquisition would not alter the basic military balance in the region and would have no adverse effect on US defence readiness. Saudi Arabia is also expected to be able to integrate the equipment and services into its armed forces without significant difficulty.
