WASHINGTON, April 17, 2013 – The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress April 16 of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the United Kingdom for 500 AGM-114-N4/P4 HELLFIRE missiles. The estimated cost is $95 million.
This program will directly contribute to the U.S. foreign and national security policies by enhancing the close air support capability of the United Kingdom in support of NATO, ISAF, and other coalition operations. Common close air support capabilities greatly increases interoperability between our two countries’ military and peacekeeping forces and allow for greater burden sharing.
The proposed sale will support the UK’s ability to meet current and future threats by providing close air support to counter enemy attacks on coalition ground forces in Afghanistan. The UK, which already has HELLFIRE missiles in its inventory, will have no difficulty absorbing these additional missiles.
The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
The prime contractor will be Lockheed Martin Corporation of Orlando, Florida. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the United Kingdom.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law and does not mean the sale has been concluded.
-30-