The US State Department has approved a potential USD350 million Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Australia of services related to the future acquisition of SM-6 Block I and SM-2 Block IIIC air-defence missiles for the Royal Australian Navy's (RAN's) yet-to-be-built Hunter-class frigates.
The US Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress on 25 August that the services featured in the proposed deal include development; engineering, integration, and testing (EI&T); obsolescence engineering activities required to ensure readiness; US government and contractor engineering/technical assistance, and related studies and analysis support; technical and logistics support services; and other related elements of programme and logistical support.
An SM-6 Block I missile arcs skywards following launch from a US Navy guided-missile destroyer. The US State Department recently approved a potential FMS to Australia of services related to the future acquisition of SM-6 Block I and SM-2 Block IIIC air-defence missiles for the RAN's future Hunter-class frigates. (US Navy)
The DSCA said in its notification that the proposed sale “will support the readiness and future sale of vital anti-air warfare capability that can be deployed from Australia's newest Hunter-class destroyers equipped with the latest Aegis combat systems.
“The purchase of Standard Missile 6 Block I and Standard Missile 2 Block IIIC missiles is currently included in Australia's procurement roadmap and will improve their ability to operate with US and allied naval forces against the full spectrum of naval threats,” noted the DSCA, adding that the principal US contractor would be Raytheon Missiles and Defense in Tucson, Arizona.
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