US approves sale of Blanket Order Training worth $1 Bn to Saudi Arabia

The State Department of United States (US) has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of Blanket Order Training and related equipment.

The estimated total cost is $1 billion.

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested a continuation of a blanket order training program inside and outside of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that includes, but is not limited to, flight training; technical training; professional military education; specialized training; Mobile Training Teams (MTTs); Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT); Extended Training Service Specialists (ETSS); and English language training.

These blanket order training cases will cover all relevant types of training offered by or contracted through the U.S. Air Force or Department of Defense Agencies (DOD).

This training for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) and other Saudi forces will include such subjects as civilian casualty avoidance; the laws of armed conflicts; human rights; command and control; and targeting via MTTs and/or broader Programs of Instruction (POIs). Program management; trainers, simulators; travel; billeting; and medical support may also be included. 

Notably, this proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the US by improving the security of a friendly country that is a force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East.

The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats and increase its interoperability with the U.S. through comprehensive U.S. Air Force training.

Further, the training will assist Saudi Arabia by fostering a climate of security in the region through the improved proficiency of the Royal Saudi Air Force. Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing this training into its armed forces.

Noteworthy, the training will be provided by U.S. Government or contract vendors based upon requirements as they are determined. 

Also, implementation of this proposed sale will require the temporary or continuation of assignment of approximately 339 U.S. Government or contractor training personnel to Saudi Arabia for at least one year with a possibility of extension.

Source: https://www.dsca.mil/press-media/major-arms-sales/saudi-arabia-blanket-order-training-0