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Denmark, Norway, and the Netherlands have all requested air-to-air missiles in a series of US foreign military sales.
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The US State Department has approved a possible US$215.5 million sale of 84 AIM-120C-8 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM) and three AIM-120 AMRAAM guidance sections.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified the US Congress on 7 June. The possible sale includes spare AMRAAM control sections, containers and support equipment, munitions support and support equipment, spare parts, weapons software and support equipment, US government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe," according to a statement released by the US DSCA.
“The proposed sale will improve Denmark’s capability to meet current and future threats by ensuring it has modern, capable air-to-air munitions. The sale will further advance the already high level of Danish Air Force interoperability with US Joint Forces and other regional and NATO forces. Denmark already has AMRAAM in its inventory and will have no difficulty absorbing these articles into its armed forces.
“The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional US government or contractor representatives to Denmark.”
In a separate US$1.94 billion US foreign military sale, the US State Department approved the possible sale of 300 AIM-120C-8 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles and 20 AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM guidance sections requested by the government of Norway.
The US Congress was notified of the sale by the DSCA on 11 June. The possible sale includes AMRAAM containers and support equipment, spare parts, accessories, repair and return support, weapons software, support equipment, classified software delivery and support, classified publications and technical documentation, training and logistics support.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” according to a statement from the DSCA published on 11 June.
“The proposed sale will improve Norway’s capability to meet current and future threats by supplementing and replacing its AIM-120B AMRAAMs with the latest version of the AIM-120C. Norway already has AMRAAMs and F-35As in its inventory and will have no difficulty absorbing these articles into its armed forces.
“The newly acquired missiles will be used for ground-based air defence in the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System but may be subject to dual use with the F-35A.
“The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”
In a separate US foreign military sale, the government of the Netherlands has requested to buy 174 advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles-extended range and four AMRAAM-C8 guidance sections in a US$678 million deal approved by the US State Department.
The US Congress was notified of the possible sale by the US DSCA on 13 June. The sale includes AMRAAM containers, load trainers, control section spares and support equipment, KGV-135A cryptographic devices, common munition built-in-test/reprogramming equipment, ADU-891 adaptor group test sets, integration and test support and equipment, munitions support and support equipment, spare parts and accessories.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a North Atlantic Treaty Organization ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” according to a DSCA statement published on 13 June.
“The proposed sale will improve the Netherlands’ capability to meet current and future threats by providing advanced air defence missiles as part of an upgraded Medium Range Air Defense system and thereby enhancing its air defence capability.
“This enhanced capability will protect the Netherlands and local allied forces and will significantly improve the Netherlands’ contribution to NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defense. The Netherlands will have no difficulty absorbing these articles and services into its armed forces.
“The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional US government or contractor representatives to the Netherlands.”
