Saudi navy opts for MBDA SAM for Multi-Mission Surface Combatants

The Royal Saudi Naval Forces (RSNF) has selected MBDA, rather than Raytheon, to provide the primary surface-to-air missile (SAM) for its new frigates, the US Department of Defense (DoD) confirmed on 31 January.

It announced that MBDA’s US subsidiary had been awarded a USD118.7 million non-competitive contract to deliver its Common Anti-Air Module Missile (CAMM) for Saudi Arabia’s Multi-Mission Surface Combatants (MSSCs), which are being built by Fincantieri Marinette Marine in Wisconsin, with Lockheed Martin acting as prime contractor. Most of the work will be carried out at MBDA’s plant in Stevenage in the UK, and the contract includes options that, if exercised, will bring its total value up to USD145.5 million.

When the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced in 2015 that Saudi Arabia’s procurement of four MSSCs had been approved, it said they would be equipped with Raytheon’s RIM-162 Evolved SeaSparrow Missiles (ESSMs) in two eight-cell Mk 41 vertical launch systems (VLSs), in addition to SeaRAM close-in weapon systems for RIM-116C Block II Rolling Airframe Missiles (RAMs).