The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSAC) has notified Congress of a potential foreign military sale (FMS) of F-15 Silent Eagle (SE) and F-35 Lightning II joint strike fighter aircraft weapons systems to the Republic of Korea (ROK).
Under the first estimated $823m sale, South Korea has requested the supply of 274 AIM-120C-7 advanced medium range air-to-air missiles (AMRAAM), six AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM guidance sections, and various joint directed attach munition (JDAM) tail kits for F-15 SE aircraft.
The US will also supply six MK-82 filled, inert bombs, 170 JDAM tail kits, 542 GBU-39/B small diameter bombs, 170 BLU-117 2000LB general-purpose bombs, 362 BLU-109 2000LB penetrators, four BLU-109 inert bombs, 154 AIM-9X-2 tactical missiles, 33 CATM AIM-9X-2 (Blk II) captive air training missiles, seven AIM-9X-2 (Blk II) CATM guidance units, and 14 AIM-9X-2 (Blk II) tactical guidance units.
The second FMS programme, with an estimated value of $793m, seeks the delivery of 274 AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM, six AIM-120C-7 AMRAAM guidance sections, 530 JDAM tail kits, BLU-109/KMU-557C/B (GBU-31) w/SAASM/AJ, four JDAM BLU-109 load build trainers, six MK-82 filled inert bombs and four BLU-109 inert bombs.
The second sale also includes 1,312 FMU-152A/B fuzes, 542 GBU-39/B small diameter bombs, 530 BLU-109 2000LB penetrators, 780 GBU-12 bomb, four GBU-12 dummy trainers, 154 AIM-9X-2 (Blk II) tactical missiles w/DSU-41, 33 AIM-9X-2 (Blk II) CATM, seven AIM-9X-2 (Blk II) CATM guidance units, as well as 14 AIM-9X-2 (Blk II) tactical guidance units.
The US will also provide missile support and test equipment, spare and repair parts, personnel training and training equipment, and other related elements of programme support services.
Weapons supplied under both the sales will provide South Korea with a credible defence capability to counter regional threats and strengthen its homeland defence, as well as enhance interoperability with the US forces.
Prime contractors for both sales include Raytheon, Boeing, Lockheed and Kaman Precision Products.
Image: An F-15 Silent Eagle aircraft during its flight. Photo: Courtesy of Boeing.
