Foreign Military Sales (FMS) appear regularly on the Pentagon’s daily list of contracts. Through FMS, the U.S. government procures and transfers weaponry and matériel to allied nations and international organizations. The Saudi government is one of the most oppressive regimes on Earth. It is also one of the U.S. war industry’s favorite customers. The U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) issued 65 FMS contracts worth at least $7,981,111,000 to Saudi Arabia during 2017.
Advanced Electronics Co. (Riyadh) received $29,934,295 to help Saudi Arabia’s Air Force with cyber protection and cyber facilities, specifically Cyber Protection System Builds 0-2 updates.
AECOM received $9,000,000 for FMS (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE): professional architecture & engineering services. Atkins North America Inc. received $9,000,000 for FMS (Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, UAE, Oman) for professional architect-engineer services.
Boeing received $10,326,551 (Saudi FMS = $595,464, 5.77% of total contract) for Harpoon / SLAM-ER missile system and Harpoon launch systems integrated logistics & engineering. This missile system is very lucrative for Boeing. Other nations that purchase this weapon include Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Germany, India, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Netherlands, Oman, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, and UK. Boeing received $12,399,305 (Saudi FMS = 143 missiles for $4,913,562, 39.63% of total contract): Harpoon & SLAM-ER spares. Boeing received $8,354,991 for Harpoon & SLAM_ER engineering, training, equipment, logistics, tech support for 25 nations, including Saudi Arabia.
Boeing received $18,290,920 for AN/APG-63(V)3 radar for use on Saudi Arabia’s F-15SA aircraft. Boeing received $18,719,151 to sustain AN/APG‐63 and Talon HATE radar subsystems for USA's ANG and Saudi Arabia’s Air Force. Boeing received $20,288,031 for USA & FMS (Israel, Saudi Arabia): F-15 equipment manufacturer infrastructure support. Boeing received $46,399,274 for FMS (Saudi Arabia): interim contractor support for F-15SA aircraft at King Khalid Air Base. Boeing received $480,421,520 for FMS (Saudi Arabia): repair F-15 parts. Al Raha Group for Technical Services (Riyadh) received $185,722,274 for procurement services, warehousing, and bench stocking of unclassified consumables & spares for Saudi Arabia’s F-15 program. S&K Aerospace received $559,011,645 to supply the Saudi Air Force with F-15 C/D/S/SA logistics support & supply consumables, and operation & maintenance of print plant / print-on-demand facilities.
Boeing received $25,522,594 for FMS (Saudi Arabia): post-production service support on 24 AH-6i helicopters. Boeing received $222,549,505 to provide Saudi Arabia’s Land Forces Aviation Command with 8 new CH-47F helicopters.
Boeing received $92,900,000 for E-3 AWACS engineering and technical support for USAF & FMS (Japan, NATO, Saudi Arabia, UK, France). Boeing received $240,195,180 for FMS (Saudi Arabia): AWACS modernization, phase 1.
Boeing received $143,414,164 to modify 24 Saudi Arabia’s AH-64E helicopters. Boeing received $3,276,522,609 for AH-64 helicopter multi-year lots 7-11, AH-64E full-rate production of aircraft, Longbow crew trainers, equipment, spares, logistics, and engineering. Includes unspecified FMS to Saudi Arabia. Longbow LLC received $183,474,414 for FMS (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UK): radar electronic units.
Booz Allen Hamilton received $28,035,789 for FMS (Saudi Arabia): support Saudi Land Forces Armor Corps in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Critical Solutions International (CSI) received $131,946,942 for FMS (Egypt, Jordan, Saudi Arabia): Husky 2nd generation system, sub-systems, parts, storage, tools, field service reps, and training.
Cubic Defense Applications received $14,823,747 for FMS (Saudi Arabia): contractor logistics support on P5 training system at Saudi bases.
DRS Systems received $82,340,766 for FMS (Kuwait, Iraq, Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia): Horizontal Technology Integration 2nd generation, forward looking infrared (HTI SGF) thermal receiver unit, and A- & B-Kit spares.
General Dynamics received $20,615,139 for USA & FMS (Australia, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia): MK82-6 bomb bodies (10,933), MK84-4 bomb bodies (866), MK84-10 bomb bodies (1,365). General Dynamics (GD Arabia Inc.) received $10,035,953 for FMS (Saudi Arabia): logistics & maintenance support.
General Dynamics received $13,144,278 for FMS (Kuwait, Australia, Saudi Arabia): Abrams systems & sustainment systems technical support. General Dynamics received $60,749,739 for FMS (Australia, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia): work on technical support for Abrams vehicles & derivative systems.
General Electric received $643,000,000 for FMS (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain): F110-GE-129 engines, spares, monitoring systems, repair, etc. Woodward FST Inc. received $7,313,497 FMS (Saudi Arabia): overhaul F100-PW-220/220E Augmenter Spraying Manifold.
Intuitive Research Technology Corp. (IRTC) received $7,893,117 for FMS (Germany, Netherlands, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Spain, UAE, Qatar, Greece): programmatic support for the lower tier project office. Eight months later, IRTC received $10,581,641 for FMS (unnamed, presumably same as the prior batch): programmatic effort for the Lower Tier Project Office Missile Systems Independent Integration Analysis under the Amcom Express program.
Iron Mountain Solutions received $7,018,280 for FMS (Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Taiwan, Afghanistan, Mexico, Thailand, UAE, Jordan, Sweden, Egypt, Slovakia, Tunisia, Brazil): technical support for the Utility Helicopter Project Office. Quantitech Inc. received $10,140,682 for FMS (UAE, Bahrain, Brazil, Colombia, Egypt, Jordan, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Sweden, Thailand, Taiwan, Tunisia): program support, Utility Helicopter Project Office.
Kaman Corp. received $85,169,000 for joint programmable fuze, FMU-52 (lot 13) & production, test & engineering support. 26% of contract is FMS (Bahrain, Belgium, Chile, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Japan, Jordan, S. Korea, Lebanon, Morocco, Netherlands, Oman, Qatar, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, UAE). L-3 received $37,347,368 for FMS (Saudi Arabia): 38,284 M734A1 multi-option fuzes; and 165,426 M783 point detonating/delay fuzes.
Kilgore Flares received $28,057,935 for FMS (Saudi Arabia, Egypt): infrared countermeasure flares (M206 272,900; MJU-7A/B 171,480; MJU-10/B 45,000). TelePrime received $7,489,587 for AN/ALE-47 countermeasures dispenser. Involves FMS including, but not limited to France, UK, UAE, Saudi Arabia.
Kratos Technology & Training Solutions received $46,217,067 for program planning and technical / instructional services to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 in Riyadh (30%), Jubail (30%), Jeddah (30%), Ras al Ghar (5%), Saudi Arabia; Orlando, FL, USA (5%).
Lockheed Martin received $7,426,983 for FMS (Saudi Arabia): software modifications to establish a software baseline for MH-60R. Lockheed Martin received $332,136,017 for FMS (UK, Egypt, India, South Korea, Indonesia, Taiwan, Netherlands, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Poland): Modernized Target Acquisition Designation Sight/Pilot Night Vision Sensor [M-TADS/PNVS .pdf], subcomponent production, and tech services for AH-64 helicopters. Lockheed Martin received $3,767,831,000 for FMS (Saudi Arabia) & U.S. Army UH-60 multi-year production. Base quantity consists of 257 aircraft: 142 Army UH-60M, 40 Saudi UH-60M & 75 HH-60M.
Lockheed Martin received $7,568,460 to provide Saudi Arabia with C-130J spares & support elements.
Lockheed Martin received $13,360,903 for FMS (Kuwait, UAE, Netherlands, Germany, Japan, South Korea, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan): post-production support basic labor and technical support.
Lockheed Martin received $21,098,062 to provide USA & FMS (South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan) with PATRIOT Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) field support services. Lockheed Martin received $39,219,294 for FMS (Germany, Netherlands, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Japan, UAE): PAC-3 Missile Support Center post-production support (recapitalize launcher, field missile activities, maintenance). Lockheed Martin received $130,342,972 for FMS: (Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, UAE, Taiwan): FY2017 PAC-3 production. Lockheed Martin received $944,888,827 initial FY2018 PAC-3 production. Includes 54 U.S. Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles, 24 MSE missiles for Qatar, 130 Saudi Arabia Cost Reduction Initiative (CRI) missiles, and ground support equipment.
Lockheed Martin received $55,500,000 FMS (Saudi Arabia): set up live fire ranges for Saudi Arabia’s National Guard.
Northrop Grumman received $75,000,000 for FMS (Saudi Arabia): Joint Threat Emitter support services.
Odyssey Systems Consulting Group received $8,159,916 for professional acquisition support services for the FMS division at Hanscom AFB and Eglin AFB. FMS includes Australia, UAE, NATO, Qatar, Turkey, UK, Egypt, Greece, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, South Korea, Morocco, Oman, Poland, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Saudi Arabia, France, India, Norway, Belgium, Japan, Denmark, Netherlands, Portugal. Odyssey Systems received $12,184,292 for professional acquisition support (management: program, financial; admin & other support) for the FMS division, and Airborne Early Warning & Control Systems International Branch at Hanscom AFB and geographically separated units. Involves FMS to Australia, France, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, UK, and NATO. Odyssey Systems received $16,495,203 for professional acquisition support services, and to provide advisory & assistance to the battle management directorate, Hanscom AFB. Involves FMS (Saudi Arabia, UAE).
Raytheon received $10,158,872 for USA and FMS (UAE, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Spain, Germany, Qatar): PATRIOT engineering. Raytheon received $23,044,183 for FMS (Israel, Qatar, Kuwait, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, UAE, Luxembourg, Saudi Arabia): support for PATRIOT Field Surveillance program. Includes missile assessment, testing, recertification, and repair. Raytheon received $202,185,977 for FMS (Germany, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Netherlands, Qatar, Spain, Taiwan): PATRIOT engineering.
Raytheon received $16,871,813 for FMS (Saudi Arabia): Joint Standoff Weapon (JSOW) initial integrated logistics support and training. Raytheon received $32,332,259 for JSOW technical support for U.S. Navy, Australia, Finland, Greece, Poland, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Turkey, Qatar. Raytheon received $302,439,830 for FMS (Saudi Arabia): 618 JSOW air-to-ground missiles (Block III C), containers, parts/spares, and engineering.
Raytheon received $78,723,292 AIM-9X Block II support & sustainment for USA, Australia, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Israel, Japan, South Korea, Kuwait, Oman, Malaysia, Morocco, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Switzerland, Taiwan, Turkey. Raytheon received $199,757,307 (Saudi FMS = $1,055,006, 0.53% of overall contract) for AIM-9X Block II lot 17 missiles, containers, and spare parts / units.
Raytheon received $36,705,000 for Advanced Technology Receiver Card, Raytheon’s patented 4-channel receiver of simultaneous tracking direct measurement processing, ultra-tight GPS / inertial navigation system coupling, innovative fast satellite acquisition. Involves FMS to Saudi Arabia.
Raytheon received $80,043,448 for Design Agent Engineering & technical support on Phalanx, SeaRAM, and Land-based Phalanx. Involves FMS (Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Canada, UK, South Korea, Portugal, Greece).
Raytheon received $31,485,233 for FMS (Saudi Arabia, Lebanon): TOW missiles. Raytheon received $292,436,322 for FMS (Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Thailand, Bahrain, Morocco): TOW missiles.
NOTE: The amount ($7,981,111,000) is a very conservative estimate. The figure is likely much higher. Total 2017 FMS to Saudi Arabia is difficult to determine because DOD is deliberately vague regarding funding allocations and often does not itemize among recipient nations.
# # # #
Christian Sorensen, Newsbud Analysts & Author, is a writer and an independent journalist. He served in the U.S. Air Force from 2007-2011. He holds advanced degrees in Translation Studies and International Relations. His work focuses on the U.S. war industry.
A-RCI = acoustic rapid commercial off-the-shelf
CLS = contractor logistics support
COTS = commercial off-the-shelf
ECP = engineering change proposal
LRIP = low rate initial production
PEO = program executive office, the space where military and civilian officials direct a major acquisition program
SRA = selected restricted availability = implementation of depot-level maintenance and modifications with the goal of updating a ship’s technical and military capabilities
TI = technical insertion
To avoid competitive bidding, DOD invokes 10 U.S.C. 2304, FAR 6.302, and FAR 8.405-6. DOD uses 15 U.S.C. 638 to avoid competitive bidding when dealing with small businesses. DOD uses CFR 206.302-4 to avoid competitive bidding when dealing with treaties and foreign transactions.