US State Department clears $3.5 billion sale of Patriot missiles to Turkey

The US State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Turkey of 80 Patriot MIM-104E Guidance Enhanced Missiles (GEM-T) missiles, 60 PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $3.5 billion.  The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale 18 December.

Turkey has requested the possible sale of 4 AN/MPQ-65 Radar Sets, 4 Engagement Control Stations, 10 Antenna Mast Groups (AMGs), 20 M903 Launching Stations, 80 Patriot MIM-104E Guidance Enhanced Missiles (GEM-T) missiles with canisters, 60 PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) missiles, and 5 Electrical Power Plant (EPP) III. Also included with this request are communications equipment, tools and test equipment, range and test programs, support equipment, prime movers, generators, publications and technical documentation, training equipment, spare and repair parts, personnel training, Technical Assistance Field Team (TAFT), U.S. Government and contractor technical, engineering, and logistics support services, Systems Integration and Checkout (SICO), field office support, and other related elements of logistics and program support.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by improving the security of a key NATO Ally on the front lines of the fight against terrorism.  Turkey is a member of and critical enabling platform for the Defeat-ISIS campaign and continues to be an essential element of our National Security Strategy and National Defense Strategy efforts to compete against great powers in both Europe and the Middle East.  The TPY-2 radar site that Turkey hosts is important to the European Phased Adaptive Approach and to efforts to protect Allies and partners against growing Iranian ballistic missile threats.

The prime contractors will be Raytheon and Lockheed-Martin.  The purchaser requested offsets.  At this time offset agreements are undetermined and will be defined in negotiations between the purchaser and contractors.