US Approves Australia's $2B Aircraft Sustainment FMS

The Department of State has approved the possible foreign military sale of F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jets and EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircraft support to the government of Australia for $2 billion.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Boeing, which manufactures the military planes, will serve as the principal contractor of the proposed transaction.

Congress has been notified about the FMS.

Australia to Acquire Aircraft Sustainment Support

The FMS covers various equipment and services related to sustainment of the F/A-18F and EA-18G, including 60 Global Lightning – Joint Tactical Terminal – transceivers, 40 Advanced EW systems, 24 next generation electronic attack units, AN/PYQ-10C simple key loaders, AN/ALE-47 EW countermeasures systems, Joint Mission Planning System software, and spare and repair parts.

Boeing and the U.S. government will also provide Canberra with engineering, technical and logistics support and other related services. About 25 government personnel and 15 Boeing employees will need to fly to Australia to provide program technical oversight and conduct program and technical reviews.

Australia FMS

The proposed sustainment support purchase follows Australia’s April FMS request for AIM-120C and AIM-120D advanced medium-range air-to-air missiles, or AMRAAM, and related equipment and services. RTX was named the principal contractor in the $1.04 billion transaction.