US State Department clears Australia to buy MQ-9B drones
WASHINGTON — The U.S. State Department on Friday approved a $1.6 billion foreign military sale of MQ-9B drones for Australia.
The package includes up to 12 MQ-9B aircraft made by General
Atomics, as well as Honeywell engines, ground control stations, training
simulators, and various satellite terminals and communications equipment
necessary for the MQ-9 pilot and sensor operator to control the drone from a
remote location.
It also contains a suite of sensors and weapons,
predominantly manufactured by Raytheon Technologies, Lockheed Martin and
Leonardo. Those include Raytheon’s Multi-Spectral Targeting System-D
electro-optical/infrared sensors; Lynx AN/APY-8 synthetic aperture radars;
Leonardo’s SAGE 750 electronic support measure system; Rio communication
intelligence systems; and six Joint Direct Attack Munition tail kits.
The $1.6 billion price announced Friday is the starting
point for negotiations on a final contract. Once the State Department approves
an FMS case, Congress has an opportunity to weigh in on the presumptive sale.
If lawmakers do not object, the foreign customer begins negotiations with the
contractor on the price and quantity of products, yielding a final contract
agreement.
In November 2019, Australia announced that it would buy the
MQ-9B SkyGuardian after shortlisting it alongside the MQ-9 Reaper in 2018 as
potential contenders for the Royal Australian Air Force’s armed
medium-altitude, long-endurance drone program, according to the Australia
Defence Business Review.
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