US Approves $259M Sierra Nevada King Air 350ER ISR Aircraft Sale to Kuwait

The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale to Kuwait of four King Air 350ER Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft for an estimated $259 million.

The principal contractor will be Sierra Nevada Corporation, Hagerstown, MD.  There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

One of the four aircraft will be further modified to accommodate VIP/senior leadership personnel for transport and Med Evac capability or command and control, and other related elements of logistical support.

The Government of Kuwait has requested a possible sale of four (4) King Air 350ER Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) aircraft with enhanced PT6A-67A engines and one (1) engine spare; four (4) AN/AAQ-35 WESCAM MX-15HDi Electro-Optical & Infrared Imaging Sensor Turret; four (4) Selex Seaspray 7500E Active Electronically Scanned Array Radars (AESA) and AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning Systems (MWS).

Also included are AN/ALE-47 Countermeasure Dispenser Systems; secure communications, cryptographic, and precision navigation equipment; Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) Systems; aircraft modification and integration for ISR mission systems; facility design and construction; ground data processing systems and support equipment; spares and repair parts; support and test equipment; simulators, training and training equipment; publications and technical documentation; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support.

The proposed sale will enable Kuwait to gather its own airborne ISR data. This capability will improve Kuwait's situational awareness, armed forces posture, and armed forces capability to respond to threats.  Enhancing Kuwait's Command, Control, Communications, Computers, & Intelligence (C4I) capability will result in the potential for greater burden sharing.

The proposed sale of items and services will establish Kuwait's first dedicated airborne ISR fleet.  The King Air 350ER ISR is part of the Kuwaiti Air Force's rapid expansion and modernization efforts, and is a priority for Kuwait and the United States.  Kuwait will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale Wednesday.