On May 1st, the U.S. Department of State used the accelerated, emergency approval process to give the ok to several large Foreign Military Sales requests coming from Israel, Qatar, Kuwait and United Arab Emirates.

Several of the requests are centered on Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guided rockets by BAE Systems. These weapons are going through a second youth as counter-drone effectors remarkably cheaper that surface to air and air to air missiles, as well as capable of being carried on jets in greater numbers.

Israel requested 10,000 APKWS All-up rounds, with an estimated total cost of $992.4 million. Qatar made an identical request and was also cleared for procurement of up to 10,000 APKWS for, again, $992.4 million. While Israel’s list of items is very vague, the Qatar authorizazion lists the items as “LAU-131 A/A launchers; Mk-152 high explosive warheads; MK66 rocket motors; proximity fuzes; WTU-1/B practice warheads; inert MK66 rocket motors; support equipment; other support equipment; publications and technical documentation”.

The inclusion of proximity fuzes confirms at least part of the APKWS will be in FALCO (Fixed Wing, Air Launched, Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Ordnance) configuration, specifically optimized for the counter-drone mission. AGR-20FALCO all-up-round (AUR) is composed of an FMU-178 proximity fuse, M151/152 warhead, a WGU-59BB guidance and control section, and a MK66 rocket motor launched from a LAU-131A/A rocket launcher.

The United Arab Emirates also requested APKWS, but in fewer numbers (1,500). Their authorization specifies that all of the rounds will come in a single variant, the air to air one (FALCO). The estimated total cost in their case is given as $147.6 million.

Kuwait has instead been cleared for procurement of Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) sets and related equipment for an estimated total cost is $2.5 billion. The request covers 6 dismounted Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) engagement operations centers (EOC); 2 hosted IBCS EOCs; 6 dismounted IBCS integrated collaborative environments (ICE); 2 hosted IBCS ICEs; 14 mounted IBCS integrated fire unit modification kits; 35 launcher integrated network kits on enhanced launcher electronic system kits; and 24 KIV 77 or 79 identification, friend or foe encryptors.

The principal contractors for this sale would be Northrop Grumman, RTX Corporation, and Lockheed-Martin.

Finally, an authorization has been published for Qatar as well, covering replenishment of PATRIOT missiles for up to 4.01 billion USD. The sale would cover up to 200 Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept On Target (PATRIOT) Advanced Capability-2 (PAC-2) Guidance Enhanced Missile-Tactical (GEM-T) and up to 300 PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement (MSE) all-up rounds.

US press sources however report that the authorizations granted on May 1st add up to 25.8 billion USD in sales to Israel, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar and United Arab Emirates. The amounts are much greater than those so far published and more up-to-date data on what they include is only expected in the new week as Congress returns in session. The requests have been granted urgent approval with the justification of the emergency due to the conflict against Iran. 

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