U.S. Approves $582M Sale of RE-3A Tactical Airborne Surveillance System Modernization to Saudi Arabia

The State Department has approved a Foreign Military Sale to Saudi Arabia for the modernization of RE-3A Tactical Airborne Surveillance System Aircraft, along with related equipment, at an estimated cost of $582 million.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of this potential sale.

The RE-3 is a rare aircraft. Just three such signals intelligence (SIGINT) aircraft are known to be in service. 

Saudi Arabia's request includes seven Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation System (GPS/INS) security devices and five L3Harris BlackRock Communications Intelligence Sensor Suites. The proposed sale aims to enhance Saudi Arabia's surveillance capabilities to address current and future regional threats, reinforce homeland defense, and improve interoperability with U.S. forces and Gulf Region partners, the DSCA said in an official release.

The principal contractor for this project will be L3 Technologies, based in Greenville, TX.

In a separate approval, the State Department has authorized the potential sale of AN/TPQ-50 Radar and related equipment to the U.A.E. for an estimated cost of $85 million.