The U.S. State Department has approved a potential $2.68 billion foreign military sale to Canada for air strike weapons and related equipment. Boeing and RTX are identified as the principal contractors for the proposed sale, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Thursday.
What Are Included in Canada’s FMS Request?
Canada’s FMS request covers up to 3,108 units of GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb Increment I weapons; 2,004 GBU-53 SDB II weapons; 5,332 KMU-572 Joint Direct Attack Munition guidance sets; 396 KMU-556 JDAM guidance sets; 146 I-2000 penetrator warheads; and inert training bombs.
Non-major defense equipment support includes fuze systems, test equipment, spare and repair parts, software, technical documentation, and technical, engineering and logistics assistance from U.S. government and contractor personnel.
The KMU-572 and KMU-556, built by Boeing, are different tail kits for JDAM, converting unguided bombs into GPS-guided weapons. The KMU-572 is for 500-pound bombs, while the KMU-556 is for heavier 2,000-pound bombs.
Also manufactured by Boeing, SDB I is a 250-pound class, GPS/Inertial Navigation System-guided glide bomb designed for high-precision strikes against fixed and stationary targets. It can be carried in an aircraft’s internal bay or on an external hardpoint.
RTX’s Raytheon business is the manufacturer of the advanced SDB II variant. The weapon features tri-mode seeker—millimeter-wave radar, imaging infrared and semi-active laser—which allows it to hit moving and stationary targets in all weather conditions.
How Will the FMS Sale to Canada Support Defense Cooperation?
The DSCA said the proposed sale would strengthen Canada’s ability to deter regional threats and contribute to shared defense objectives as a NATO ally. The support is also expected to reinforce interoperability with U.S. forces and sustain Canada’s role in peacekeeping and humanitarian missions.
Canada is expected to integrate the weapons and equipment into its existing force structure without difficulty.