Middle East Nation Commits to USD 500 Million Helicopter Training Contract

United States & Saudi Arabia – The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $1 billion foreign military sale to Saudi Arabia covering helicopter support, spares and aviation training for the Royal Saudi Land Forces Aviation Corps (RSLFAC). The notification, issued by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), reflects Washington’s continued security cooperation with Riyadh and supports the sustainment and training needs of Saudi Arabia’s extensive U.S.-origin rotary-wing fleet.

• The approval comprises two cases valued at $500 million each:
• A Cooperative Logistics Supply Support Arrangement (CLSSA) enabling Saudi Arabia to requisition U.S.-managed spare parts, components and repairs.
• A blanket order for aviation training, covering initial through advanced rotary-wing pilot and maintainer instruction.
• The CLSSA covers sustainment for a broad range of U.S.-made aircraft operated by the RSLFAC, including UH-60 Black Hawk, AH-64 Apache, CH-47F Chinook, Schweizer 333, and Aerial Scout helicopters.
• The training package will be delivered by the U.S. Army, providing rotary-wing flight training, tactical instruction and maintenance training across Apache, Chinook, Lakota and Black Hawk platforms.

Source: DSCA / U.S. Department of Defense