Posted on 06/01/2005 4:30:23 AM PDT by sukhoi-30mki
U.S. moves to sell Australia SM-2 missiles
Tue May 31, 2005 05:59 PM ET
WASHINGTON, May 31 (Reuters) - The Pentagon notified Congress on Tuesday of a proposed sale to Australia of up to 175 SM-2 Block IIIA surface-to-air defensive missiles built by Raytheon Co. (RTN.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , as well as associated equipment. The proposed sale, valued at up to $315 million if all options are exercised, would provide Australia continued anti- aircraft defense capabilities for its Navy, the notice said. Australia already has SM-1 Standard missiles.
The Pentagon's Defense Security and Cooperation Agency, which oversees foreign arms sales, said Australia requested a possible sale of up to 175 SM-2 missiles, up to 30 telemetry missiles and various spare parts.
"It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist the Royal Australian Navy in modernizing its surface combatant fleet so as to maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability and contribute to an acceptable military balance in the area," DSCA said in a statement about the notification.
It said the sale would also help maintain the U.S. Navy's production base and would improve interoperability between U.S. and Australian forces.
DSCA said the other principal contractor would be General Dynamics Corp. (GD.N: Quote, Profile, Research) .
The proposed missile sale follows notification to Congress last week of a proposed sale to Australia of three MK 7 AEGIS shipboard combat weapons systems, a deal valued at up to $350 million.
Congress has 30 days to block the sale, although such action is rare.
© Reuters 2005. All Rights Reserved.
Ping!!
OutFrigginStanding!!
a fantastic system to one of our most important allies...
The SM2's are to replace the SM1's on our OHP FFG's (which are also getting ESSM). The Air Warfare Destroyers (AWD's) will probably get RAM/ESSM/SM2/3/6 and TacTom.
The SM2's are to replace the SM1's on our OHP FFG's (which are also getting ESSM). The Air Warfare Destroyers (AWD's) will probably get RAM/ESSM/SM2/3/6 and TacTom.
Block IVs on the way as well.
Read up here.
http://www.chinfo.navy.mil/navpalib/policy/vision/vis02/vpp02-ch3o.html
We went the Block IIIA because we need to launch them using the old Mk 13 GMLS.
Better not call the fire department on this one.
Didn't the SM-2 BLK-4 get cancelled a year or 2 ago?
From what I can tell they bought 43-Block IVs assuming they would move on to Block IVA. But the Block IVA got cancelled, not clear where they stand on the block IV.
http://www.raytheon.com/products/static/node4751.html
this is an up to date reference indicating they are selling the IV.
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