US considers SM-2 sale to South Korea
The US State Department has made a determination approving a potential Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of SM-2 Block IIIB Standard missiles, containers and support to South Korea for $65 million, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced on 5 July.
South Korea has requested a possible sale of 17 SM-2 Block IIIB Standard Missiles and 17 SM-2 missile containers. The request also includes publications and technical data; personnel training and training equipment; US government and contractor technical assistance, and other related logistics support.
The missiles will be used by the Republic of Korea Navy to supplement its existing SM-2 Block IIIA/IIIB inventory.
Raytheon Electronic Systems will be the principal contractor of the proposed sale.
The SM-2 features anti-air warfare and limited anti-surface warfare capability against anti-ship missiles and aircraft. It has an effective range of 90nm and an altitude ceiling of 65,000ft. Its Block IIIA and IIIB variants have semi-active radar seeker technologies in interrupted and continuous wave guidance modes.
More from Defence Notes
-
New UK-EU defence pact misses concrete details despite ambitious “first step”
Given the geopolitical gravity, analysts have said the defence and security agreement established falls short of what is needed for future UK-EU co-operation.
-
Drones, C-UAS and air base investments top the list in $42 billion US-Qatar defence deal
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems secured a nearly $2 billion deal for MQ-9B uncrewed aerial systems, while Raytheon’s counter-UAS system was secured for $1 billion.
-
Brazilian Congress to review constitution amendment to secure defence budget increase
An amendment to the Brazilian Constitution currently under discussion would permanently assign 2% of annual GDP to the defence budget, potentially cementing modernisation programmes for the country’s armed forces.
-
What capabilities could the US supply to Saudi Arabia under the $142 billion deal?
Multiple questions involving the largest US Foreign Military Sale in history remain unanswered.