The State Department has approved a possible sale of precision-guided munitions to NATO, and in turn nations in the US-led coalition fighting ISIS, to increase the arms available in the fight. The total sale, pending Congressional approval, would be $231 million for thousands of guidance kits, computer controls, fuzes, and other related equipment for Joint Direct Attack Munitions, Paveway II bombs, GBU-12s, and GBU-49s, according to a Defense Security Cooperation Agency release. The munitions and equipment would retransfer to Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Greece, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, and Spain, according to DSCA. While the Air Force has been running short of munitions, it is providing them to allies to help address their shortfalls as well, Lt. Gen. John Raymond, the deputy chief of staff for operations, said earlier this year.
Boeing’s receipt of the 10th lot contract award for the KC-46 Pegasus this week leaves just three lots left to complete the Air Force’s buy of the tanker, although a further buy of 75 additional aircraft as a “bridge” to the Next-Generation Aerial-refueling System (NGAS) seems increasingly likely.