Defense Security Cooperation: Major Arms Sales

DSCA’s mission is to advance U.S. national security and foreign policy interests by building the capacity of foreign security forces to respond to shared challenges. DSCA leads the broader U.S. security cooperation enterprise in its efforts to train, educate, advise, and equip foreign partners.

Below are three arms sales contracts announced by the DSCA this month:

Israel – KC-46A Aerial Refueling Aircraft

March 3, 2020 – The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Israel of up to eight (8) KC-46 aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $2.4 billion.  The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Government of Israel has requested to buy up to eight (8) KC-46 aircraft; up to seventeen (17) PW4062 turbofan engines (16 installed, 1 spare); and up to eighteen (18) MAGR 2K-GPS SAASM receivers (16 installed, 2 spares).  Also included are AN/ARC-210 U/VHF radios, APX-119 Identification Friend or Foe transponders, initial spares and repair parts, consumables, support equipment, technical data, engineering change proposals, publications, Field Service Representatives (FSRs), repair and return, depot maintenance, training and training equipment, contractor technical and logistics personnel services, U.S. Government and contractor representative support, Group A and B installation for subsystems, flight test and certification, other related elements of logistics support and training.  The total estimated program cost is $2.4 billion.

The United States is committed to the security of Israel, and it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability.  This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives.

The proposed sale further supports the foreign policy and national security of the United States by allowing Israel to provide a redundant capability to U.S. assets within the region, potentially freeing U.S. assets for use elsewhere during times of war.  Aerial refueling and strategic airlift are consistently cited as significant shortfalls for our allies.  In addition, the sale improves Israel’s national security posture as a key U.S. ally.  Israel will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.

The proposed equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractors will be Boeing Corporation, Everett, WA, for the aircraft; and Raytheon Company, Waltham, MA, for the MAGR 2K.  There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of two U.S. field service/contractor representatives to Israel.

Poland – Javelin Missile and Command Launch Unit

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Poland of one hundred eighty (180) Javelin missiles and seventy-nine (79) Javelin Command Launch Units (CLUs) and related equipment for an estimated cost of $100 million.  The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Government of Poland has requested to buy one hundred eighty (180) Javelin missiles and seventy-nine (79) Javelin Command Launch Units (CLUs).  Also included are Basic Skill Trainers (BST), Missile Simulation Rounds (MSR), Battery Coolant Units (BCU), tool kits, modified 2-level maintenance parts, training, U.S. Government and contractor technical assistance, transportation and other related elements of logistics support.  The total estimated program cost is $100 million.

This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally and partner nation which is an important force for peace, political stability, and economic progress in Eastern Europe.

This proposed sale of the Javelin system will help Poland build its long-term defense capacity to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity in order to meet its national defense requirements.  Poland will have no difficulty absorbing this system into its armed forces.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractors will be Raytheon/Lockheed Martin Javelin Joint Venture, Orlando, Florida and Tucson, Arizona.  There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.  However, the purchaser typically requests offsets.  Any offset agreement will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and the contractor(s).

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Poland.

The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Morocco of twenty five (25) M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System (HERCULES) vehicles and/or M88A1 long supply HERCULES refurbished vehicles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $239.35 million.  The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

Morocco – M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System (HERCULES), Support, and Equipment

The Government of Morocco has requested to buy twenty five (25) M88A2 Heavy Equipment Recovery Combat Utility Lift and Evacuation System (HERCULES) vehicles and/or M88A1 long supply HERCULES refurbished vehicles; and twenty-five (25) M2 .50 caliber machine guns.  Also included are twenty five (25) export Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System (SINCGARS); twenty five (25) AN/PSN-13A Defense Advanced Global Positioning System (GPS) Receiver (DAGR) with Selective-Availability/Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM); thirty (30) AN/VAS-5B Driver Vision Enhancer (DVE) kits; twenty five (25) M239 or M250 smoke grenade launchers; one thousand eight hundred (1,800) M76 (G826) or L8A1/L8A3 (G815) smoke grenade rounds; spare parts; support equipment; depot level support; Government-Furnished Equipment (GFE); repair parts; communication support equipment; communication equipment integration; tools and test equipment; training; training simulators; repair and return program; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical, and logistics support services; Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT); and other related elements of logistics and program support.  Additionally, the following recommended basic load ammunition may be included upon request from customer:  twenty five thousand (25,000) A576 cartridges, .50 caliber linked 4 API/API-T F/M2; three hundred (300) G815 – grenade, smoke screening L8A1/A3; two thousand five hundred (2,500) A541 – 50 armor piercing incendiary, tracer M20 F/M2; ninety-one thousand eight hundred (91,800) A557 – cartridge, .50 caliber 4 ball/1 tracer linked M33 F/M2; fifty four thousand (54,000) A598 – cartridge, .50 caliber blank F/M2; other technical assistance and support equipment; and other related elements of logistics and program support.  The total estimated cost is $239.35 million.