The US government has cleared two possible sales of air-to-ground munitions for NATO allies in Europe, including the sale of the new AGM-179A Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM) to the UK.
The possible UK sale involves 3,000 JAGMs and is valued at $957 million, according to the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
The package also includes dummy missiles, technical assistance, integration and support, and other elements.
“This proposed sale will support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe,” says the DSCA.
Produced by Lockheed Martin, JAGM is designed to replace weapons such as the AGM-114 Hellfire missile.
Lockheed has this to say about the weapon: ”The multi-mode guidance section offers enhanced performance on the battlefield. The dual-mode sensor combines improved semi-active laser and millimeter wave radar sensors providing precision strike and fire-and-forget capability against stationary and moving land and maritime and even airborne targets. This seeker enables JAGM users to strike multiple targets, near simultaneously, with more precision in adverse weather and obscured battlefield conditions which increases user survivability and effectiveness.”
Separately, the US government has also cleared the possible sale of 150 Northrop Grumman AGM-88G Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles Extended-Range to Finland, along with support equipment and other systems and services. The package is valued at $500 million.
The DSCA also announced a possible $100 million sale of 36 Raytheon AIM-120C-8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles to Lithuania. The package also includes support, training, and other services and equipment.
The DSCA filing indicates that the weapons will be used for the Baltic nation’s ground-based National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems – or NASAMS.
All three packages fall under the US government’s Foreign Military Sales process.
