- The United States approved a possible $1.8 billion Foreign Military Sale to Denmark for up to three P-8A maritime patrol aircraft and associated mission systems, with Congress notified on Dec. 29.
- The proposed sale, with Boeing as the principal contractor, includes aircraft, sensors, communications equipment, and U.S. government support, and U.S. officials said it will not affect regional military balance or U.S. defense readiness.
The United States on Dec. 29 approved a possible $1.8 billion Foreign Military Sale to Denmark for up to three P-8A multi-mission maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft and related systems, with Congress formally notified of the decision.
According to the notification, the determination was made by the U.S. State Department, and the Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification to Congress. The proposed sale supports Denmark’s request to acquire aircraft and equipment intended for maritime surveillance, reconnaissance, and defensive missions.
The Danish government has requested up to three P-8A patrol aircraft along with four Multifunctional Distribution System Joint Tactical Radio Systems and four Guardian Laser Transmitter Assemblies for the AN/AAQ-24(V)N system. The package also includes system processor replacements for the AN/AAQ-24(V)N with Selective Availability Anti-spoofing Modules and eight LN-251 embedded GPS and inertial navigation systems with the same modules.
Non-major defense equipment listed in the notification includes Tactical Open Mission Software, MX-20HD electro-optical and infrared systems, NexGEN Missile Warning Sensors, AN/APY-10 radar systems, acoustic sensors, early warning management systems, Identification Friend or Foe equipment, secure radios, countermeasures dispenser system programmers, cryptographic appliqués, and communications security devices. Engineering, technical, logistics, and program support services from the U.S. government and contractors are also included.
The total estimated value of the proposed sale is $1.8 billion. The notification states that the principal contractor will be Boeing, based in Arlington, Virginia. U.S. officials said they are not aware of any offset agreements associated with the potential sale at this stage, noting that any such arrangements would be defined during negotiations.
Implementation of the proposed sale would require between 11 and 14 U.S. government and contractor personnel to travel to Denmark for up to two years. Their role would include support for aircraft fielding and maintenance, mission systems, training, logistics, and engineering technical assistance.
The P-8A is a long-range maritime patrol aircraft derived from the Boeing 737 platform and is used by several NATO and allied countries. It is designed to conduct maritime domain awareness, anti-submarine warfare, surface surveillance, and reconnaissance missions. The aircraft integrates radar, acoustic sensors, and electro-optical systems to track and identify targets over wide areas.
The notification said Denmark would have no difficulty absorbing the equipment into its armed forces and that the sale would not alter the military balance in the region.
The certification also noted that the proposed transfer would not have an adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness. The approval reflects the standard Foreign Military Sales process, under which the U.S. government manages and oversees the transaction on behalf of the purchasing nation.