US State Department Approves $1.7 Billion Aegis Sale to Canada

The US State Department has approved the sale of an Aegis Combat System to Canada in a deal valued at $1.7 billion, the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency revealed in a statement.

The proposed sale of the radar and missile system is expected to improve interoperability between the navies of the US and Canada, a NATO ally. The agency added that Congress has been notified of the sale. 

“This will significantly improve network-centric warfare capability for the US forces operating globally alongside Canada. Canada will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment into its armed forces,” the statement said.

The Lockheed Martin weapons package includes four shipsets of the AEGIS Combat System; three shipsets of the MK 41 Vertical Launch System; one AEGIS Combat System Computer Program; four shipsets of AN/SPY-7 Solid State Radar Components; and four shipsets of Cooperative Engagement Capability.

The prime contractor for the systems is Moorestown, New Jersey-based Lockheed Martin Rotary and Mission Systems, while other firms will provide components, systems, and engineering services.

Aegis is primarily a ship-based system, but it has also been adapted for land use, Reuters wrote.

Aegis utilizes a computer-based command and decision system to track and guide weapons against multi-mission threats: anti-air, anti-surface, and anti-submarine warfare.

More than 100 Aegis systems have currently been deployed in six navies around the world.