The US State Department has approved a potential Foreign Military Sale to Bulgaria of FGM-148F Javelin missiles and related equipment, with an estimated total cost of $114 million.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification to Congress on 20 September 2024.
According to the notice, Bulgaria has requested to purchase “218 Javelin FGM-148F missiles (includes four fly-to-buy missiles) and 107 Javelin Lightweight Command Launch Units (LWCLU).”
The deal also includes essential training and support services, such as “Javelin LWCLU Basic Skills Trainers, Javelin Outdoor Trainers (JOT), Battery Coolant Units (BCUs), System Integration and Check Out (SICO),” along with training for gunners and maintenance personnel.
The proposed sale, the State Department said, “will improve Bulgaria’s long-term defense capacity to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity and to meet its national defense requirements.” The statement also noted that Bulgaria will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.
The contract will primarily be executed by the Javelin Joint Venture between Lockheed Martin, based in Orlando, Florida, and RTX Corporation in Tucson, Arizona. No US Government or contractor personnel will need to be assigned to Bulgaria for the sale’s implementation.
The US Government emphasised that “the proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region” and assured that “there will be no adverse impact on US defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.”
This sale further strengthens the defence relationship between Bulgaria and the United States, both NATO Allies, enhancing Bulgaria’s capability to address evolving security challenges.
