Saudi Arabia is looking to buy night
vision goggles and thermal vision equipment in a deal valued at about $330m, the US Defence Department agency responsible for foreign
sales has said.
Saudi Arabia
has requested 200 thermal sniper gun sights, 6,000 night vision
goggles, and 7,000 aiming lasers, the Defence Security Cooperation
Agency (DSCA) said in a notification to Congress.
The proposed sale will augment Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats from potential adversaries during operations conducted at night and during low visibility conditions, the statement said.
The Royal Saudi Land Forces (RSLF), which will use the equipment, are responsible for regional, perimeter, and border security operations.
“This proposed sale meets their defence and counter-terrorism requirements to deter current insurgent activity along their southern border and contributes to their overall military posture,” the DSCA said.
The prime
contractors will be Flir in Boston and Laser Devices in
Monterrey, California, the Pentagon said, adding that Congress must approve the
proposed sale before it goes ahead.
Congress
last year approved a $60 billion US arms sale to Saudi Arabia that
includes Boeing F-15 fighter jets, attack helicopters and
satellite-guided bombs. It also contains helicopters made by United
Technologies and advanced radar from Raytheon.
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