LCS International Variant
Posted on 09/03/2015 6:29:15 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
WASHINGTON: Saudi Arabia is in advanced discussions with the US government about buying two frigates based on a coastal warship that Lockheed Martin Corp is building for the US Navy, and could reach agreement by the end of the year, according to sources familiar with the talks.
The frigate sale, valued at well over $1bn, will be the cornerstone of a long-delayed multibillion dollar modernisation of the Royal Saudi Navy’s Gulf-patroling eastern fleet of ageing US warships and would include smaller patrol boats. It underscores the strong business and military ties between the two countries, despite tensions over the US-led Iran nuclear deal.
Paperwork for the Saudi deal could be finalised by year’s end, the sources told Reuters this week. The larger modernisation effort will encompass training, infrastructure and anti-submarine warfare equipment, and could include orders from other countries, the sources said.
The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia is due to meet with US President Barack Obama in Washington this week, as Washington and Riyadh seek to shore up relations.
The Saudi Naval Expansion Programme II has been under discussion for years, but US sources say Saudi Arabia’s concerns about Iran have accelerated the effort.
“We’re not seeing that any strains in the US-Saudi government to government relationship are inhibiting the business relationships,” said one source. “The Saudis remain very interested in buying US technology.”
Saudi and US officials are also finalising details of a deal worth $1.9bn to buy 10 MH-60R helicopters, which can be used for anti-submarine warfare and other missions. US lawmakers were notified of a deal in May.
The helicopters are built by Sikorsky Aircraft, a unit of United Technologies Corp and Lockheed, which is poised to take over Sikorsky by year-end.
(Excerpt) Read more at thepeninsulaqatar.com ...
LCS International Variant
Wahhabist bastards.
Whahabastards.
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