The State Department approved a possible $6.5 billion Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Belgium for 34 Conventional Take-off and Landing (CTOL) F-35A variants.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) told Congress of the certification on Jan. 19.
Belgium requested 34 Lockheed Martin [LMT] F-35s along with 38 Pratt & Whitney F-135 engines (34 installed, four spares), Electronic Warfare Systems; Command, Control, Communications, Computer and Intelligence/Communications, Navigational, and Identification; Autonomic Logistics Global Support System (ALGS); Autonomic Logistics Information System; Full Mission Trainer; Weapons Employment Capability, and several other associated features and support equipment. Pratt & Whitney is a division of United Technologies Corp. [UTX].
DSCA said in a statement the sale will provide Belgium with a “credible defense capability to deter aggression in the region and ensure interoperability with U.S. forces.”
This would also augment the country’s operational aircraft inventory and enhance its air-to-ground and air-to-air defensive capabilities.
The DSCA notice said the proposal is being offered in the context for a competition and if the proposal is accepted, the agency expects offset agreements will be required. Offsets are being defined in negotiations between Belgium and the contractors.
Implementation of the sale would require multiple trips to Belgium by U.S. government and contractor representatives for technical reviews/support, program management, and training over the life of the program. Contractor representatives would also be required in Belgium to conduct Contractor Engineering Technical Services and ALGS for after-aircraft delivery.
Belgium is currently reviewing offers for a fighter competition set to replace its F-16 fleet set to retire in the next decade.