The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Government of Kuwait for recapitalization of 218 M1A2 tanks and related equipment, support, and training. The estimated cost is $1.7 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on December 12, 2016.

The Government of Kuwait has requested a possible sale in support of its recapitalization of 218 M1A2 tanks, to include two hundred and forty (240) .50 Cal M2A1 machine guns; four hundred and eighty (480) 7.62mm M240 machine guns; two hundred and forty (240) AN/VRC-92E SINCGARS radios; and one thousand and eight five (1,085) AN/PVS-7B Night Vision Goggles. Also included is the incorporation of cooling system/thermal management systems; Common Remotely Operated Weapons Station (CROWS) II – Low Profile Stabilized Weapon Stations; special armor; 120mm gun tubes; 2nd generation Forward Looking Infrared (FLIR) sights; embedded diagnostics; gunner’s primary sights; Counter Sniper and Anti-Materiel Mount (CSAMM) hardware; upgrade/maintenance of engines and transmissions; depot level support; training devices; spare and repair parts; support equipment; tools and test equipment; technical data and publications; personnel training and training equipment; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. Total estimated program cost is $1.7 billion.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country which has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.

Kuwait intends to use this equipment to recapitalize its fleet of M1A2 full track tanks in order to modernize and extend the service of the tanks. Kuwait will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractors involved in this program are: General Dynamics Land Systems, Sterling Heights, MI; Joint Services Manufacturing Center (JSMC), Lima, OH; Konsberg Defense Systems, Alexandria, VA, and Johnstown, PA; Raytheon, McKinney, TX; Meggitt Defense Systems, Irvine, CA; Palomar, Carlsbad, CA; Northrop Grumman, West Falls Church, VA; DRS Technologies, Arlington, VA; Lockheed Martin, Bethesda, MD; Honeywell, Morristown, NJ; Miltope, Hope Hull, AL. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connect with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale is estimated to require five to seven contractors and twenty-five to thirty U.S. Government representatives to Kuwait.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.

BAE Systems PLC
16.12.2016