The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress last week (and notified everyone else Monday with a press release) of plans to sell the government of Singapore an arms package consisting of Joint Direct Attack Munition kits, or JDAMs, manufactured by Boeing (BA 1.02%), plus associated equipment, parts, training, and logistical support.
Specifically, the weapons that Singapore is interested in buying include:
- 913 KMU-556B/B JDAM kits, which are used to convert conventional Mk-84 2000-lb. "dumb" bombs into guidable "smart bombs."
- 100 FMU-152A/B fuzes, which can be set to explode the bombs on impact, at a set proximity to target, or be "delayed" to explode after impact.
- 300 DSU-40 Precision Laser Guidance Sets, used to guide the smart bombs to their targets.
DSCA noted that Singapore intends to add these weapons to its stockpiles of air-to-ground ordnance, and will also use them in training its fighter pilots at their CONUS facility in the United States. In urging Congress to permit the sale, DSCA called Singapore "a key regional partner in counter-terrorism and an important force for political stability and economic progress in Southeast Asia."
DSCA assured Congress that this sale of military equipment "will not alter the basic military balance in the region," nor will it result in any "adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness."
Unless rejected by Congress, this sale should generate an estimated $63 million in incremental revenue for principal contractor Boeing.
