Several large contractors hold prime spots on a proposed $257 million foreign military sale of data link systems and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance equipment to Saudi Arabia.
The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency said prime contractors include ATK (NYSE: ATK), BAE Systems, L-3 Communications (NYSE: LLL) Raytheon (NYSE: RTN) and Rockwell Collins (NYSE: COL).
As of May, BAE was reportedly close to signing an $808 million agreement with Saudi Arabia for training aircraft ahead of the country’s planned use of BAE’s Eurofighter Typhoon.
Saudi Arabia’s government requested to buy 10 Link-16 data link systems and four ISR systems for that country’s King Air 350ER aircraft, with an option to buy four more planes with the systems.
According to the DSCA, the Saudi air force will use the additional ISR equipment for route surveillance, facility, infrastructure, border security, counterterrorism, smuggling interdiction, naval and coastal operations, internal defense and search and rescue operations.
If the sale goes through, six U.S. Air Force personnel and four contractors will travel to Saudi Arabia for up to six weeks per year.
Six contractors in Saudi Arabia will provide technical assistance on a full-time basis until these systems are delivered and integrated into the operational units.
ISR equipment the Saudi government requested includes:
- Surveillance/air traffic management cockpit
- Radios
- Friend or Foe transponder
- GPS navigation systems
- Anti-spoofing module
- Infrared missile warning system
- Electro-optical sensor
- Synthetic aperture radar
