New US Navy SSAT buy includes sales to Japan, Saudi Arabia

Japan and Saudi Arabia are set to receive quantities of the US Navy’s (USN’s) new BQM-177A Subsonic Aerial Target (SSAT) as part of a third full-rate production (FRP) order placed with Kratos Unmanned Aerial Systems.

Awarded by the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on 23 December, the USD50.9 million FRP Lot 3 contract modification covers the delivery of 65 BQM-177A aerial targets. Alongside 50 for the USN, the contract with Kratos additionally covers the delivery of seven SSAT vehicles for Japan and eight for Saudi Arabia under Foreign Military Sales (FMS) arrangements.