General Dynamics Wins Saudi Abrams FMS Contract

General Dynamics Land Systems will produce 69 Saudi M1A2 (M1A2S) Abrams tanks for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia under a new contract announced on 8 January. The $132.7 million contract is part of a foreign military sales (FMS) agreement awarded by the US Army TACOM Life Cycle Management Command for the Royal Saudi Land Forces.

This work is part of a plan by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to upgrade its fleet of tanks. According to the company, the contract extends work started in 2008 to update M1A1 and M1A2 tanks to the M1A2S configuration for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The M1A2S conversion increases the efficiency and capability of the tank.

The work will be performed at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima, Ohio, and is scheduled to be complete by 31 July, 2014.