DSCA announces possible foreign military sales worth some $665 million to Chile
09:40 GMT, November 16, 2009 defpro.com | As the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified United States Congress earlier last week, Chile requested the purchase of significant number of arms and radar systems valued at an estimated total of $665 million (approx. €444 million). The foreign military sales (FMS) contracts which will be primarily benefit Boeing, Raytheon Corporation, and Thales Raytheon Systems, will include HMMWV-based Avenger fire units and Stinger anti-aircraft missiles, the advanced version of the AIM-120C AMRAAM air-to-air missile, as well as AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar systems.
Chile has a long-standing political and economic relationship to the United States. The US has been the strongest trade partners of the South American country and has a free trade agreement (FTA) with Chile since 2004. According to data of the US State Department, this has helped to boost the bilateral trade ties, with the total respective trade jumping by 154 per cent during the FTA's first three years. However, the exclusive position of the US on the Chilean market has slightly diminished during the past years to the benefit of the European Union and Asian countries.
Anti-aircraft missiles
Besides the AMRAAM air-to-air missiles and the Sentinel radar systems, the DSCA notified the US Congress on 10 November 2009 of the possible military sale to Chile of 36 Avenger fire units, 378 Stinger-re-programmable micro-processor (RMP) Block 1 anti-aircraft missiles, 12 Stinger Block 1 buy-to-fly missiles and associated parts, equipment and logistical support. The contract is worth approximately $455 million (€304 million).
Chile intends to use these assets and services to modernise its armed forces and expand its existing air defence architecture to counter threats posed by air attack. According to the DSCA, these systems will contribute to the Chilean military’s goal of updating its capability while further enhancing greater interoperability between Chile and the US and other allies. So far Chile’s ground based air defence assets include a small number of towed 20mm AAA guns as well as Blowpipe and Mistral surface-to-air missiles (SAMs). Furthermore, the South American country possesses two ex-Dutch “L” class (Chilean Almirante Latorre class) air defence frigates.
In addition to the above listed systems the contract will include 42 captive flight trainers, 36 AN/VRC-92E single channel ground and airborne radio systems (SINCGARS), 42 captive flight trainers (CFTs), S250 shelters on High Mobility Multi-Purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV), as well as additional support equipment, services and training. The principal contractors will be Boeing Aerospace Company, Raytheon Missile Systems, and Thales Raytheon Systems Company. As the official DSCA press release states, there are no offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Advanced air-to-air missiles
The Government of Chile has also requested a sale of 100 AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) including associated parts, equipment and logistical support at an estimated cost of $145 million (€96.89 million) which would be provided by the Raytheon Corporation in Tucson, Arizona. This contract will also not include any offset agreements.
The missiles will most likely be used on the country’s F-16 fighter aircraft. Since 2007 Chile operates a total of 28 F-16s in all versions from the F-16A to the F-16D, provided by the United States and the Netherlands. In May 2009 the Chilean Government ordered an additional 18 Dutch F-16 Midlife Update (MLU) (see
http://www.defpro.com/news/details/7633/) for a purchase price of approximately $150 million (€100 million). This will augment the Chilean Air Force’s fleet to a total of 46 F-16 fighter aircraft.
Sentinel radar systems
Finally, the Chilean government seeks the procurement of 6 AN/MPQ-64F1 Sentinel radar systems within a foreign military sale contract with the US, further including 6 AN/VRC-92E Vehicular Dual Long Range Single Channel Airborne and Ground Radio Systems (SINCGARS) and associated parts, equipment and logistical support worth approximately $65 million (€43.38 million).
According to the DSCA, this purchase is aimed at contributing to enhance Chile’s air defence architecture and to ensure a greater interoperability between Chile and the US, and among other allies. The principal contractors for this contract will be Thales Raytheon Systems, International Telephone and Telegraph, and American General.
