State Department Clears Weapons Sales Worth $1.37 Billion To Netherlands, Finland, Kuwait

The State Department on Tuesday cleared the possible military sales of missile launching systems to Finland, fast patrol boats to Kuwait, and items and services for the upgrade of Apache attack helicopters to the Netherlands. If completed, the foreign military sales would be worth a combined $1.37 billion.

The latest proposed sales were announced by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), and these plans would now be taken to Congress for the final clearance, after which negotiations would take place again between the countries. So, there is a possibility the final total amount and some aspects of the deals might change.

The upgrade or remanufacture of AH-64D Block II apache Helicopters to AH-64E configuration would cost about $1.191 billion, while the Mk 41 Baseline VII Strike-Length Vertical Launching Systems would come with a price tag of about $70 million, and the fast patrol boats would cost $100 million.

In 2017, United States sold $41.93 billion worth of weapons and services to allies, which was an almost 20 percent increase from the 2016 figures, Defense News reported.

The Netherlands has requested for upgrades for 51 T700-GE-701C engines to T700-GE-701D, 17 new AN/APG-78 Fire Control Radar and subcomponents, 28 AN/ASQ-170 Modernized Target Acquisition and Designation Sights, 28- AN/APR-48B Modernized Radar Frequency and 70 Embedded Global Positioning System/Inertial Navigation Systems. Finland has sought four launching systems and Kuwait 10 fast patrol boats.

The DSCA said about the deal with the Netherlands in a statement: “This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe.”

In the statement, DSCA added the contractors for the upgrade or remanufacture would be Boeing Company, St. Louis, Missouri, and Lockheed Martin Corporation, Bethesda, Maryland.

“Finland intends to use the vertical launching systems on four new construction corvettes that will make up the Finnish Navy's Squadron 2020. The vertical launching systems will enable Finland to acquire missiles that will significantly enhance the Finnish Navy's area defense capabilities over critical air-and-sea-lines of trade and communication,” the DSCA said in a statement about the sales with Finland.

The contractor for this deal would be Lockheed Martin Corporation.

In another statement, DSCA said of the sales with Kuwait: “Kuwait intends to use the boats for patrol, interdiction, and maritime protection. These boats will help Kuwait develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. Kuwait will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.”

DSCA added the prime contractor would be Kvichak, in Kent, Washington.

Of all the three deals, DSCA said: “The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.”

In 2017, foreign military sales (FMS) came to about $32.02 billion, while foreign military financing (FMF) cost about $3.87 billion. For central Asia, the FMF and FMS totaled $22 billion, while for the Indo-Pacific, it came to $7.96 billion. For the western hemisphere it cost $641.6 million, for Europe $7.3 billion, and $248.6 million for Africa.