The State Department approved a possible $80 million Foreign Military Sale (FMS) request to the United Kingdom for Hellfire missiles and associated equipment, parts and logistical support.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the potential sale on Nov. 9.
The requested FMS would include 500 AGM-114R Hellfire II Semi-Active Laser (SAL) missiles.
There are no principal contractors or offset agreements for the sale because the missiles are planned to come from U.S. Army stock.
The U.K. would use the missiles to provide close air support to counter enemy attacks on coalition ground forces in U.S. CENTCOM’s area of responsibility, DSCA said.
DSCA also highlighted the U.K. already has Hellfire missiles in its inventory and the United States has an interest in promoting commonality between close air support capabilities of the United States and United Kingdom, allowing for greater burden sharing.
Implementation of the FMS would not require the assignment of additional U.S. government or contractor representatives to the United Kingdom.