The US State Department has approved a potential £72 million ($91.2 million USD) sale of Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System-Alternate Warhead (GMLRS-AW) rounds and related equipment to Australia, according to a 10 March notification to Congress by the Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
According to the DSCA, the Australian government has formally requested to purchase 54 GMLRS-AW rounds, along with telemetry kits, engineering services, technical assistance, and logistics support.
The proposed sale, the agency states, is intended to “enhance Australia’s capability to meet current and future threats by increasing its capability to deter adversaries.”
The DSCA pushed the strategic importance of this sale, stating that it “will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States.” The agency highlighted Australia as “one of our most important allies in the Western Pacific,” adding that the country’s “strategic location contributes significantly to ensuring peace and economic stability in the region.”
The sale is also expected to bolster interoperability between US and Australian forces. According to the notification, “The proposed sale will support [Australia’s] goal of improving national and territorial defence, interoperability with US forces, and working to uplift industry as a new source of supply.”
The principal contractors for the deal will be Lockheed Martin, based in Grand Prairie, Texas, and Lockheed Martin Australia. The US government does not anticipate any offset agreements linked to this sale, though such agreements may be negotiated between Lockheed Martin and Australia.
The DSCA assured that the sale “will not alter the basic military balance in the region” and “will not require the assignment of any additional US Government or contractor representatives to Australia.” It also stated that “there will be no adverse impact on US defence readiness as a result of this proposed sale.”
While the £72 million ($91.2 million USD) figure represents the highest estimated cost, the DSCA noted that the final value could be lower depending on Australia’s budget and final contract agreements. The Foreign Military Sales (FMS) notification does not mean a contract has been signed, but it represents a key step in the US foreign military sales process.
Unrelated topic but I see Portugal has just dropped F35 from its new fighter replacement in favour of a European alternative. First of many I believe.
Time to fit The Treaty of Windsor and Typhoon in the same sentence.
Actually, if Japan is gearing up to operate GCAP by 2035, might that be in the running for Portugal: special price for the lead adopter? I don’t think Italy or the UK will try to get it operational before 2040.
2035 is theoretical. If it comes off great. But even if it makes it, I doubt that any great number of aircraft will be available before 2040. In any case GCAP is not a good replacement for F16. SAAB would IMO be a better fit for Portugal.
Not sure, With the deal for turkey plus I’m hoping our own needs Wharton might be out of production slots for a long time.
The Portuguese Government just fell. The statement by the Defense Minister is meaningless. The Portuguese Air Force wants the F-35, not some European fourth generation fighter.
That seems like a lot of money for 54 rounds even with the tech support or am I missing something?
While I don’t know the answer, I would point out that Australia is building a factory for manufacturing GMLRS missiles. Perhaps there is more in the background to this deal.
Australia has a habit of bolting on three extra zeros to every project. That’s why they are all dancing around saying that they are spending $300 billion on 8 SSN’s.
Canada does the same shit as well which is why they claim 58 F35’s will cost $50 billion.
They normally lump an entire bunch of projects together including industrial stuff then add 40 years of support cost and multiply by half a century of inflation.
There politicans started doing this as a way to make it look like they were spending lots of money on something but now it’s out of control.
It would be good to know how the Brimstone/rocket development is going for MLRS? Which will give MLRS the ability to hit moving targets.