Posted on 05/21/2017 7:38:55 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
RIYADH // Lockheed Martin said on Sunday it inked a US$28 billion deal with Saudi Arabia to supply a wide range of military equipment and set up a facility to assemble about 150 S-70 Black Hawk helicopters.
The deal is part of an estimated $110bn of defence agreements signed on Saturday between the US and Saudi Arabia, where President Donald Trump is leading a high-level delegation on his first international trip since taking office.
The Lockheed deals will create 18,000 skilled jobs in the US and thousands of jobs in Saudi Arabia as both countries seek to be active in job creation as part of their political mandates. Saudi Arabia has outlined Vision 2030 that aims to develop new industries such as defence and lower foreign defence purchases, while President Trump is keen to support US job creation.
More than 50 per cent of Saudi Arabia’s military spending is envisaged to be sourced locally by 2030 under Vision 2030, the brainchild of deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Lockheed signed letters of intent and a memorandum of intent to sell Saudi Arabia technology that includes integrated air and missile defence systems, multi-mission surface combatant ships, radar systems, surveillance systems, tactical aircraft and rotary wing programs, the defence company said in a statement.
Lockheed also signed a letter of intent with Taqnia, a technology development and investment company owned by sovereign wealth fund Public Investment Fund (PIF), to form a joint venture for final assembly and completion of Black Hawk utility helicopters for the Saudi government.
Lockheed also signed an initial agreement with Saudi Arabian Military Industries (Sami), which is owned by PIF, to help the newly-formed defence company build its industrial capability and "provide for localisation efforts associated with multi-mission Surface Combatants and Aerostats".
Saudi Arabia wants Sami to be one of the world’s top 25 defence companies by 2030 as it seeks to add thousands of manufacturing jobs and diversify its income away from oil.
Raytheon and General Dynamics also signed agreements yesterday with Saudi Arabia aimed at helping develop the kingdom’s defence industry.
In the back of my mind I am wondering if Saudis will now put the kabosh on some people’s antics through back door channels...like Mccain.
The Saudis can buy the best equipment in the world and it would not matter. Their common soldiers and pilots thus far have demonstrated no real competence or martial spirit. their performance in Yemen has been abysmal. The reality is that they are unwilling to die on behalf of the vile, corrupt Saudi “royals”. Soon the wealth and brutal repressions will not be able to stop the inevitable. Islamic culture is not compatible with the values, institutions and practices of modernity. The chronic violence and instability in the Mideast is the result of Islamic culture’s inability to transform or respond to the challenge of modernity. Despite the oil wealth, “Saudi” Arabia is a poor investment.
Pelosi was calling off the impeachment rhetoric. Of course,she is going senile so who knows what is behind that.
This is a technology transfer, whether anyone will call it that or not. Sikorsky is also now producing, or soon will be producing helicopters in India.
Once the Saudis (and Indians) learn the technology and manufacturing processes of producing various weapons systems, it'll be so long American company which mostly invented and developed the products others want to eventually produce.
The same goes for just about every produce a US company ever produced in China.
I think for military weapons, US companies should produce them in the US and sell them where allowed around the world, but this scheme will mostly serve to set up foreign nations to produce their own weapons in the future.
Better have Americans doing Quality Assurance. I have not heard good things about the work ethic in the Arab culture.
INteresting analysis.
What we do in the ME always seems to bite us in the butt years later...like training Osama.
We may be seeing a lot of anti-Trump muting among the uniparty establishment who have long bowed for Saudi money
Yeah, I am going to be watching for it...starting with nutty McInsane.
I agree with your post but one exception. Saudi’s are indeed NOT warriors but I don’t think it has to do totally with the Saudi Family. I think it literally is their OLDEST problem brought to them by their “Prophet” Mr. Mo. Namely, Mr. Mo decreed that it’s “ok” to marry your first cousin. Over a thousand years later we know beyond doubt that the cumulative weight of that one decree causes brain dysfunction and IQ’s so low they can’t grasp the simplest concepts.
So, by now, their inability to fight is baked into the cake and there is nothing they can do about it. They would be better off with a core group of Saudi officers with a high IQ if they could find them and a mercenary military.
France has the same problem, albeit for different reasons, thus they created the FFL to fight all their dirty little wars. The North Vietnamese had Soviet pilots in their fighters for years.
Well said.
Ok, can someone here explain a few things to me, not yelling at me, just a few oddball questions here. Honestly I was cheering yesterday at the display happening Riyadh. Until a few quirky brain cells fired up...and here’s what they thought.
The 9/11 hijackers came from here.
Rudy turned down money offered by SA to rebuild.
Isn’t Saudi Arabia the one supporting rebels in Syria?
Why in that case, would we willing do business in arms like this? McCain must be cheering in the background!
Obama OK’d a nuclear Iran...
Trump cuts a $110 billion dollar deal with Saudi...
Can anyone really explain to me what we are doing? Other than a change in administration, what is the end game here? Our security? It sure seems like we’re playing with fire and what? We haven’t been burned enough already?
So we sell them $100 billion in weapons and station thousands of contractors over there to maintain and operate them
The alternative was that Russia and China do’ it
I don't see the downside
Ive read the new prince and future king is a bit rough around the edges as a leader
If he can spin this military investment into a native military- industrial-technical industry job creating Saudi empire, then young Arabs not born into the upper class just may have alternative future lifestyles than they do now
It sure is worth trying since we are living with the failed Bush Doctrine of invade muslim countries- replace their leaders.write a western style constitution and try to let corrupt politicians and scholars rule - and occupy with US military troops until hearts and minds are changed
What about the technology transfer issue?
Much truth in what you say.
Trump IS a turncoat.
Yes the Saudis have been supporting terror and extremism/ nascent terror through their international network of religiously schemed and funded organizations and bought banks and politicians
Yes this bought their ruling monarchy protection from the religious extremists and membership in the NWO globalist club
Yes the extremists served to exert pressure where the saudis wanted it- and without any commitment of Saudi troops - and with enough distance to offer plausible deniability of direct royal involvement
But the question for Trump is - what to do about it?
Instituting a quasi Marshall plan of technically developing these societies without having to invade punish and destroy them
There's an idea
With any luck the effects of technical investment in native based jobs, capitalism and globalisation that result - will do what invading US troops have failed to,do -.marginalize the extreme religious fringe and start a reformation from within
If it doesn't start in SA then where?
Arming our enemies AND giving the jobs.
What’s not to like?
I seem to remember a deal like this was struck with the Shah of Iran back in the day when he was a bud...
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