The State Department has approved a $185 million deal with Australia for components needed to integrate the CEAFAR 2 Phased Array Radar System with the AEGIS combat system on their naval ships.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the foreign military sales (FMS) on Wednesday.
The deal includes long lead items needed to integrate the CEAFAR radar for the AEGIS system, including Command Display System consoles, Multi-Mission Display systems, Tactical Equivalent Core Computing System cabinets, Tactical Equivalent AEGIS LAN Interconnect System cabinets.
Australia has also requested Global Command and Control System – Maritime (GCCS-M); Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC) sites systems, AN/SPQ-15 Converter/Receiver and signal data converter equipment, a Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DIVDS) cabinet and AN/SQQ-89 Sonobouy Processing Core Computing System racks.
“The proposed sale will enhance Australia’s Surface Combatant capability by adding nine AEGIS capable Future Frigates over the next 20 years and by upgrading their existing three AEGIS capable Hobart Class destroyers with the latest technology and capability,” DSCA officials said in a statement. “This sale enhances Australia’s self-defense capability, while significantly improving interoperability with U.S. Navy AEGIS combatants in the region. By deploying a surface combatant fleet that will incorporate Cooperative Engagement Capability (CEC), Australia will significantly improve network-centric warfare capability for U.S. forces operating in the region.”
The prime contractor for the deal is Lockheed Martin [LMT].