The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia of Blanket Order Training and related equipment for an estimated cost of $1 billion. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has requested a continuation of a blanket order training program inside and outside of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that includes, but is not limited to, flight training; technical training; professional military education; specialized training; Mobile Training Teams (MTTs); Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT); Extended Training Service Specialists (ETSS); and English language training. These blanket order training cases will cover all relevant types of training offered by or contracted through the U.S. Air Force or Department of Defense Agencies (DOD).
Mobile Training Teams (MTTs) is a team of U.S. DoD personnel on temporary duty in a foreign country for the purpose of training foreign personnel in the operation, maintenance, or other support of weapon systems and support equipment, as well as training for general military operations. Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT) is a team of U.S. DoD personnel deployed on Permanent Change of Station status, normally for one year or longer, to a foreign country to provide technical assistance and training to foreign military personnel in the operation, maintenance, and employment of specific equipment, technology, weapons, supporting systems, or in other special skills related to military functions. ETSS are DoD military and civilian personnel technically qualified to provide advice, instruction, and training in the installation, operation, and maintenance of weapons, equipment, and systems.
This training for the Royal Saudi Air Force (RSAF) and other Saudi forces will include such subjects as civilian casualty avoidance; the laws of armed conflicts; human rights; command and control; and targeting via MTTs and/or broader Programs of Instruction (POIs). Program management; trainers, simulators; travel; billeting; and medical support may also be included. The proposed sale will improve Saudi Arabia’s capability to meet current and future threats and increase its interoperability with the U.S. through comprehensive U.S. Air Force training. The training will assist Saudi Arabia by fostering a climate of security in the region through the improved proficiency of the Royal Saudi Air Force. Saudi Arabia will have no difficulty absorbing this training into its armed forces.
Saudi Arabia is the largest customer of the U.S. Foreign Military Sales (FMS) program, with contracts amounting to over $140 billion. The U.S. has provided Saudi Arabia with a broad range of defense materials, including advanced weapon systems and military equipment. Although the U.S.-Saudi relationship is not a formal military alliance like NATO, it is grounded in close military cooperation and substantial arms sales. This relationship has developed from shared interests in regional security and deterring threats from foreign or regional powers. The cooperation covers a wide range of security issues, including regional stability, counterterrorism, and air and missile defense. However, this relationship has experienced tensions and adjustments over time, particularly due to diverging political and strategic interests.
