The State Department recently approved over $700 million in possible Foreign Military Sales (FMS) of four AT-6C Wolverine Light Attack Aircraft to Tunisia, 16 MK-48 Mod 7 Advanced Technology torpedo conversion kits to the Netherlands, and 700 Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) software license copies to Jordan.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the possible sales on Feb. 25.
The Tunisia FMS costs about $326 million to cover the four AT-6C Wolverine Light Attack Aircraft and supporting equipment like 312 MAU-169 Computer Control Groups; 312 MXU-1006/B Air Foil Groups; 468 MK81 250 LB GP bombs; 18 BDU-50s (MK-82 Filled Inert); 66 MXU-650 C/B Air Foil Groups, GBU-12; 60 Guidance Section, guided bombs, MAU-209, GBU-10,12,16; 48 MK-82 500lb bombs; 516 FMU-152 A/B fuzes; 18 MAU-169H(D-2)/B Computer Control Groups; 3,290 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems (APKWS); two Pratt & Whitney [UTX] PT6A-68D 1600 SHP engine spares; six L-3Harris [LHX] MX 15D Multi-Spectral Targeting System; and six .50 caliber machine guns.
The prime Tunisia contractor will be Textron Aviation Defense LLC [TXT]. While there are no known offset agreements currently proposed, DSCA noted this purchaser typically requests offsets, which would be defined in negotiations between purchaser and contractor.
DSCA said the sale would “bolster their capability to respond to and engage threats in multiple areas across the country. Additionally, the procurement of the AT-6 aircraft strengthens interoperability between Tunisia, regional allies, and the United States.”
The agency also noted the sale provides additional opportunities for bilateral engagements to further strengthen the relationship between the U.S. and Tunisia
The Netherlands MK-48 Mod 7 Advanced Technology torpedo conversion kits would cost about $85 million and also include spare parts, containers, associated hardware, torpedo handling equipment, cables, and various U.S. logistics support services.
The prime contractor will be Raytheon [RTN].
DSCA noted the Netherlands intends to use the equipment “to upgrade additional MK 48 Mod 4 torpedoes to the MK 48 Mod 7 AT model. They intend to use the MK 48 Mod 7 AT torpedo on their Walrus-Class submarines.”
The Jordan FMS would cost $300 million for up to 700 Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System (AFATDS) fire control system software license copies with a tailored, international ballistic kernel and associated equipment.
The sale also includes up to 200 laptop and table computers, ancillary computer mounting hardware, battery kits and chargers, printers, scanners, network routers and communication hardware, modems, 250 each diesel fueled 5 kilowatt auxiliary power units (APUs), 100 each diesel fueled electrical power generators, 50 each model 7800-HF 150-Watt high frequency radios, 500 each model 7850-MB 50-Watt multiband (UHF&VHF) radios, 550 each model 7850-MB IO-Watt multiband (UHF&VHF) radios, and the other required components and associated logistics support.
The prime contractors for AFATDS and supporting equipment includes Raytheon and L3Harris.
DSCA noted this upgrade “will allow the Jordan Armed Forces (JAF) to fire Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System-Alternative Warhead (GMLRS-AW) rockets using a digital fire control system. The expansion will ensure uniformity among all indirect fire systems used by the JAF.”
The upgrade and expansion of the fire control systems will allow the country’s military to defend its ground forces and borders with indirect fire weapon systems, the agency added.
This effort also advances Jordan’s efforts to modernize its military and enhance interoperability with U.S., allied, and coalition military forces, DSCA said.