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Pakistan, the DSCA, and unintended irony By Greg Waldron on May 16, 2011 5:07 PM Government bureaucrats are not known for their wit, but I expect one or two from the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) got a chuckle recently from a routine notice of a possible sale of aircraft spare parts to Pakistan. The $62 million deal outlined in the 12 May news release says Pakistan is in the market for spare parts for types such as the F-16, C-130, T-37, and T-33. It makes no mention of when Pakistan made the request. All good and well, but...

Why does DSCA make aircraft prices so confusing? By Stephen Trimble on March 29, 2011 The Indian press says New Delhi is holding up a blockbuster deal for 10 Boeing C-17s. There's apparently some concerns about the bill, which the US Defense Security and Cooperation Agency (DSCA) estimates could cost as much as $5.8 billion. Ouch! That's worth as much as $580 million per aircraft. This raises one of my frequent gripes about DSCA's mandatory notifications to Congress. In short, they make no sense. According to DSCA, the same aircraft with nearly identical equipment and extra features will result in...

India moved one step closer to boosting its heavy airlift capability: Yesterday, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced that it recently notified Congress of the Indian government’s request to purchase 10 Boeing-built C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft. The deal, which is currently being negotiated between India and Boeing and to be carried out within the US Foreign Military Sale (FMS) programme, has an estimated value of $5.8 billion (€4.33 billion). The procurement of these aircraft would represent India’s largest acquisition of US defence equipment as well as Boeing’s largest order from India, following the $2.1 billion contract on...

On January 29, 2010, the U.S. Department of Defense’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) announced the approval of a major, long-awaited arms sales package for Taiwan. The $6.4 billion deal includes Patriot advanced capability (PAC-3) missiles along with radar sets and related equipment, UH-60M Blackhawk helicopters, Osprey class mine hunting ships, Multifunction Information Distribution Systems terminals, and Harpoon telemetry missiles. China quickly expressed its indignation and blasted the decision as interference in its internal affairs. Beijing also retaliated by suspending some U.S.-China military-to-military exchanges, a move that was widely expected. This time, however, China reacted more assertively than it has...

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified US Congress on 18 February of a possible foreign military sale (FMS) to Pakistan for refurbishment of a Oliver Hazard Perry-class frigate for a total contract value of approximately $78 million (€57.47 million). As the DSCA announced, the Government of Pakistan has requested support for refurbishment of USS McInerney (FFG-8), the second ship of the Oliver Hazard Perry-class of US guided-missile frigates, being provided as excess defence articles (EDA). The contract will include onboard spares, spare and repairs parts, support equipment, publications and technical data and related government and contractor services and support....

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified the US Congress, respectively, on 22 December and 28 December 2009 of two possible foreign military sales (FMS) to the United Arab Emirates of enhanced guided bomb units as well as of logistics support and training for 12 C-130J-30 transport aircraft. The two deals would amount to a total estimated value of $409 million (approx. €286.23 million). According to the DSCA, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has requested a possible sale of 400 GBU-24(V) 11/B Enhanced PAVEWAY III, 400 GBU-24(V) 12/B Enhanced PAVEWAY III, 400 GBU-49(V) 3/B Enhanced PAVEWAY II, 400 GBU-50(V) 1/B...

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency has signaled its intent to consider a rash of foreign military sales to Egypt, including the transfer of anti-tank missiles. The government of Egypt has also requested anti-ship missiles, engine upgrades for its fleet of F-16 jet fighters and Fast Missile Crafts worth an estimated $1.18 billion. The proposed sale is expected to "contribute to the foreign police and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country which has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the...

Spain – Block IV Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles (Source: US Defense Security Cooperation Agency; dated June 3, web-posted June 4, 2008) WASHINGTON --- The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Spain of Block IV Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $156 million. The Government of Spain has requested a possible sale of 20 RGM-109E Block IV Surface Ship Vertical Launched Tomahawk Land Attack Missiles, 5 Tactical Tomahawk weapon control systems hardware and software, canisters, containers,...