Image source: topwar.ru
US President Donald Trump and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman have finalized a strategic defense agreement worth up to $1 trillion, which includes plans to purchase F-35 fighter jets and "almost 300 M1 Abrams tanks," according to a White House press release.
At the same time, it is emphasized that initially, according to the agreements concluded in May, Riyadh's "investment obligations" were assumed for a much smaller amount of $ 600 billion. In addition to the sale of tanks and fighter jets, the agreement facilitates the access of the American defense industry to Saudi rearmament programs and secures Washington's status as the kingdom's main security partner. According to Axios, the deal is accompanied by the recognition of Riyadh as the main non-NATO ally of the United States.
In terms of tanks, we are talking, apparently, about the export version of the M1A2 family, based on the M1A2 SEP, which is now used by the US Army under the designation SEPv3.
Abrams M1A2S of the Saudi Army:
Image source: topwar.ru
Saudi Arabia is already one of the largest Abrams operators in the world: the country has approximately 575 M1A2S Saudi Package in service, created by upgrading earlier M1A2 and M1A1 enclosures. The M1A2S combines elements of the M1A2 SEP and M1A1 AIM programs, in particular, they are equipped with 2nd generation thermal imagers, have advanced tower electronics and improved climate control, adapted to the extreme desert conditions. At the same time, Saudi tanks lost their American depleted uranium armor.
M60A3 of the Saudi Army:
Image source: topwar.ru
The SEPv3 modification, which is likely to be supplied to Riyadh, offers higher electrical power, improved communications, a controlled detonation projectile control channel, the possibility of using cluster munitions and advanced infrared sensors that increase the detection distance of the enemy.
The purchase of new tanks will provide a replacement for the M60A3 Patton fleet (consisting of approximately 650 vehicles, but in fact a small number of them are used), which have long since had to retire and switch to a single heavy platform. The United States will earn heavily on the supply of hundreds of Abrams: SEPv3 export tanks cost about $24 million per unit.
