Denmark will buy 300 Excalibur shells for high precision strike
The U.S. State Department has decided to approve a possible foreign military sale to the Danish government of Excalibur projectiles and related logistic and program support elements for an estimated cost of $121 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency issued the required certification today, informing Congress of this potential sale.
The 155 mm Excalibur shell is a precision-guided artillery munition, developed jointly by Raytheon and BAE Systems Bofors. This advanced projectile is designed to be used with standard 155 mm artillery guns, offering guided accuracy through GPS technology. This feature allows it to strike targets with extreme precision, thus minimizing collateral damage and maximizing impact effectiveness. Capable of reaching targets up to 40 to 50 kilometers away, the Excalibur is available in several versions that are tailored for various missions, including targeting moving targets and penetrating reinforced air defenses. The shell is used by several armed forces around the world, including the United States, Canada, and many NATO countries, and it has also been supplied to Ukraine during the first year of the war.
The Danish government has requested the purchase of three hundred and thirty-nine (339) M982A1 Excalibur tactical projectiles. Also included are Portable Electronic Fire Control Systems (PEFCS); Enhanced Platform Integration Kits (iPIK); Simple Key Loaders (SKL); Pullers; Surface Danger Zones (SDZ); training for new equipment; spare parts; U.S. government technical assistance; technical data; repair and return services; and other related elements of logistic and program support. The estimated cost is $121 million.
This proposed sale will enhance the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by contributing to the security of a NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe. The proposed sale will improve Denmark’s capability to deal with current and future threats by providing precision equipment and increasing the accuracy of its brigades’ initial strikes. Denmark will have no difficulty integrating these articles and services into its armed forces.
The prime contractor will be RTX Corporation, located in Tucson, Arizona. The buyer generally requests offsets. Any offset agreement will be defined during negotiations between the buyer and the contractor. The description and dollar value correspond to the highest estimated quantity and dollar value based on initial requirements. The actual dollar value will be lower depending on final needs, budget authorization, and signed sales contracts, as applicable.