Defense News:
WASHINGTON— The U.S. State Department has ok’d a package of potential sales for South Korea, including six P-8 maritime surveillance aircraft and 64 Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles.
The P-8 deal has a potential price tag of $2.1 billion, while the Patriot weapons could cost $501 million, a $2.6 billion overall deal for American military contractors.
The potential sales were announced by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency on Sept. 13. All DSCA notification are not final; if cleared by the Senate, procurement quantities and costs can still change in final negotiations.
If completed, the sales would boost South Korea’s military with capabilities aimed directly at Seoul’s two most concerning neighbors in North Korea, always of concern, and China, which has been increasing its military submarine fleet.
Included in the P-8 package are nine Multifunctional Information Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Systems; 42 AN/AAR-54 Missile Warning Sensors; and assorted engines, Electro-Optical acoustic systems, counter measures and software.
