State Department approves $3.2B missile defense sale to Sweden

The State Department has approved a possible $3.2 billion foreign military sale of Patriot Configuration-3+ Modernized Fire Units to Sweden to bolster that country's missile defense capabilities, according to a recent notice from the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.

"This proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to improve the security of a strategic partner which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress within the Baltic Sea region and across Europe," the Feb. 20 notice states. "The proposed sale of the Patriot missile system will improve Sweden’s missile defense capability. Sweden will use the Patriot system to defend its territorial integrity and promote regional stability. The proposed sale will increase the defensive capabilities of the Swedish military and support interoperability with U.S. and NATO forces."

Raytheon and Lockheed Martin are the prime contractors in the sale, which covers "four (4) Patriot Configuration-3+ Modernized Fire Units consisting of: four (4) AN/MPQ-65 radar sets, four (4) AN/MSQ-132 engagement control stations, nine (9) antenna mast groups, twelve (12) M903 launching stations, one hundred (100) Patriot MIM-104E Guidance Enhanced Missile-TBM (GEM-T) missiles, two hundred (200) Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles, and four (4) Electrical Power Plants (EPP) III," the Feb. 20 DSCA notices states.

The sale would also include communications equipment, tools and test equipment, range and test programs, support equipment to include associated vehicles, a technical assistance field team and other support services.