The State Department approved two potential Foreign Military Sales (FMS) for Denmark and the Netherlands to buy a total of $321 million in naval weapons this week.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of these FMSs on July 31.
The Danish sale entails 46 Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) Block IIIA All-Up-Rounds and associated equipment for $152 million. This includes RIM 066M-03-BK IIIA vertical launch system (VLS); up to two SM-2 IIIA Telemetry, Omni-Directional, AllUp Rounds, RIM-066M-03-BK IIIA (VLS); up to two SM-2 IIIA Telemetry, Omni-Directional Antenna, Warhead Dud Capable, RIM 066M-03-BK IIIA (VLS); MK 13 MOD 0 VLS Canisters, technical documentation, and associated logistics support services.
The main contractors in this sale are Raytheon [RTN], builder of the SM-2, and BAE Systems.
The SM-2 Block IIIA provides air and cruise missile defense for naval ships, particularly U.S. Arleigh Burke-class destroyers.
DSCA said this sale will help support the Royal Danish Navy’s Iver Huitfeldt-class frigates’ anti-air warfare capabilities.
“The SM-2 Block IIIA missiles, combined with the Anti-Air Warfare System (AAWS) combat system, will provide significantly enhanced area defense capabilities over critical Northern Europe air-and-sea-lines of communication,” the agency said in a statement.
Separately, the Netherlands is requesting $159 million for 106 Raytheon MK 54 lightweight torpedo conversion kits to upgrade its existing MK 46 torpedoes to the MK 54 model. MK 48 torpedoes can be launched from a surface ship, helicopter, or fixed-wing aircraft to track and attack underwater targets.
The FMS also includes torpedo containers, Recoverable Exercise Torpedoes (REXTORP) with containers, Fleet Exercise Section (FES) and fuel tanks, air launch accessories for rotary wing aircraft, ground handling equipment, spare parts, and other associated support and logistics equipment.
The main contractor of the second sale is Raytheon.
The agency said both sales support U.S. security goals by helping NATO allies improve their military capabilities.
DSCA noted implementation of the sales will not require assigning any additional U.S. government or contractor representatives to either country, but U.S. government engineering and technical services may be required on an interim basis for installations and integration in the Netherlands.