Posted on 05/26/2011 5:46:32 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
Lockheed proposes $5bn Aegis ships sale to Saudi Arabia
By Bloomberg Thursday, 26 May 2011 1:08 PM
Lockheed Martin Corp has proposed selling to Saudi Arabia eight Littoral Combat Ship hulls outfitted with its Aegis radar in a package that may be valued at $5bn, a company executive said.
What we are offering is the Aegis SPY 1F system on the Littoral Combat Ship, Paul Lemmo, vice president of business development at Lockheeds Mission Systems and Sensors unit, said in an interview today in Arlington, Virginia.
The Aegis SPY-1F is a smaller, lighter version of the air and missile defense radar deployed on US Navy ships.
Saudi Arabia is seeking eight surface combatant ships, such as the Littoral Combat Ship, as the centerpiece of its plan to recapitalise its eastern fleet that may also include fast- patrol boats, helicopters and drones, he said.
Lockheeds proposal was made to Saudi Arabia through the US Navy, which is offering both the Littoral Combat Ship models to Saudi Arabia, Lemmo said.
Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed is the prime contractor for one of the two Littoral Combat Ship models being bought by the US Navy. A team led by Austal Ltd, and including General Dynamics Corp. is building the other model.
Anything for a buck.
Let us make sure to arm our future enemies well... ugh
Sure, why not? It keeps the yards open, saves some jobs and preserves the technical knowledge base.
The Saudis aren’t going to be using them anywhere but the Arabian Gulf and maybe off Yemen and Somalia.
Taiwan needs them.
I would like to think that anything we sell to someone else, we have the capability to instantly destroy if need be......
Sounds like the Saudis are a little concerned about Iranian missiles too.
Selling the Aegis system is like selling the crown jewels.
... I say that even though the Japanese Navy has the Aegis system.
Exactly. For a navy that isn’t looking for far-ranging blue-water deployment the LCS may be an adequate, if expensive solution.
Unless you are talking of ballistic missile defense capabilities, for which the SPY-1F variant is inadequate, there are lots of newer and lighter radar systems available from a number of suppliers.
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