General Dynamics Land Systems, a leading manufacturer of armoured weapon systems, has been awarded $187.5 million contract for conversion of its 44 M1A1 and 40 M1A2 Abrams tanks to the Saudi M1A2 (M1A2S) configuration.

The Foreign Military Sales contract was awarded by the US Army Tacom Life Cycle Management Command on behalf of the Royal Saudi Land Forces.

This new contract continues work started in 2008 to update M1A1 and M1A2 tanks to the M1A2S configuration for Saudi Arabia. The M1A2S conversion increases the efficiency and capability of the tank.

The work will be performed by current employees at the Joint Systems Manufacturing Center in Lima, Ohio, with an estimated completion date of March 2015.-TradeArabia News Service