The Department of State has announced its approval of a possible foreign military sale of Raytheon Company Missile Systems to the Government of Spain. The sale would include M982A1 Excalibur tactical rounds and associated equipment, estimated at $48.2 million.
The M982A1 Excalibur is a long-range, precision-guided 155mm round that employs the GPS precision guidance system to provide soldiers with accurate, immediate-effect firing capability in any environment. This ammunition is the Increment Ib, a reduced-cost, full-capacity production projectile that is fully qualified for use in a wide range of howitzer systems.
At all ranges and in all weather conditions, the Excalibur weapon improves first-round hit accuracy, which is highly desirable given the increased focus on counter-artillery attacks. This weapon system also increases the range of 39 caliber artillery to 40 km, 52 caliber artillery to 50 km, and 58 caliber artillery to 70 km.
The Spanish Government expressed its desire to purchase an additional 153 M982A1 Excalibur tactical rounds. In a previous deal, worth an estimated $21.87 million, it was agreed that Raytheon would sell Spain 118 Excaliburs. With approval from the State Department that arrived yesterday, the total size of the deal will now include 271 Excaliburs. Spain will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces.
The agreed procurement includes a number of essential components such as a portable electronic Fire Control System, an Enhanced Platform Integration Kit, a Modular Propelled Ordnance Loading System, Single Key Magazines, and support related to estimation tables of collateral damage, and other support related to both logistics and the program in general.
The State Department stated that the proposed sale is in the foreign policy and national security interests of the United States and that the move is intended to bolster the security of a NATO ally, which is a crucial factor in maintaining stability. Politics and economic growth in Europe. Spain’s purchase of Excalibur is expected to improve its interoperability with the US and other allied forces, thus bolstering the country’s defense capabilities.
Andrew Salerno Garthwaite
