ISLAMABAD: The United States on Thursday announced the approval of a $1.23 billion sale of up to 400 advanced air-to-air missiles and related equipment to NATO ally Germany, AFP reported.
“The proposed sale will improve Germany's capability to meet current and future threats by providing increased air-to-air capability for the German F-35 program and supporting German and shared NATO planning, training, and operational requirements," the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement.
The US State Department has approved the potential sale of AIM-120D-3 advanced medium range air-to-air missiles to Germany for an estimated $1.23 billion, the Pentagon said in a statement on Thursday, according to Reuters.
The principal contractor for the sale is RTX Corp, the Pentagon said.
Security of a NATO ally
It will also "support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe," DSCA said, according to AFP.
The State Department approved the possible sale of the missiles to Germany and DSCA provided the required notification to the US Congress, which still needs to sign off on the transaction.
The US announcement came after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed to take "all necessary measures to ensure effective deterrence against... violations of airspace and other attacks by the Russian military."
Airspace violations
Recent weeks have seen Russia send fighter jets and drones into the airspace of NATO members Poland and Romania, followed by suspicious drone flights near airports in Denmark and Norway.
Merz's government has also blamed Moscow for multiple drone sightings over German military and industrial sites.
