General Dynamics Land Systems, a business unit of General Dynamics, has been awarded two contracts with a combined value of $42.4 million for Saudi Arabia's tank programme.

The contracts were awarded by the US Army Tacom Lifecycle Management Command on behalf of the Royal Saudi Land Forces.  This work is part of a plan Saudi Arabia to upgrade its entire fleet of 314 Abrams tanks.

The contracts, valued at $12.6 million and $29.8 million, respectively, will provide materials and labor for the conversion of 102 M1A2 tanks to an M1A2S configuration.  The M1A2S conversion will increase the efficiency and capability of the tank, a statement said.

Current employees at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima, Ohio will perform the work.  The estimated completion of 60 tanks is expected by August 30, 2012, and 42 tanks will be finished by September 30, 2012.

This contract continues work started in 2008 to design, develop, convert, implement and test a hybrid configuration of the M1A1, M1A2 and M1A2 System Enhancement Package (SEP) tank variants for Saudi Arabia, according to the statement. – TradeArabia News Service