The US greenlights an “electronic attack” system for Italy, torpedoes for India and radars for Romania

Leaders from the 55th Wing, 55th Electronic Combat Group and 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron stand ready to receive Air Combat Command's first EA-37B Compass Call aircraft during a handover ceremony at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona, Aug. 23, 2024 received. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Paige Weldon)

WASHINGTON – The U.S. State Department today gave its blessing to three foreign military sales that would result in Italy bringing in $680 million worth of electronic attack systems, India bringing in $175 million worth of torpedoes, and Romania bringing in $680 million Radar system worth $110 million goes into operation.

In particular, Rome appears to be in the market for BAE Systems' Electronic Attack (EA)-37B mission system – the radars, encryption devices, terminals, etc. that form the brains of the US Air Force's EA-37B Compass Call aircraft. which is based on a heavily modified Gulfstream G550 (PDF). Italy reportedly already has some Gulfstreams capable of accommodating the new high-end equipment.

The potential sale “will improve Italy's ability to meet current and future threats by increasing interoperability with the United States Air Force (USAF) and disrupting enemy command and control communications when Italy is involved in contingency operations abroad,” it said in an announcement posted on the Defense Security Cooperation Agency website.

Meanwhile, New Delhi has been granted approval to proceed with the possible acquisition of 53 aircraft-launched MK 54 MOD 0 lightweight torpedoes of all types, as well as associated equipment and support, including “in-country torpedo training”. The proposed $175 million agreement is a direct agreement with the U.S. government because, according to DSCA, “much of the light torpedo hardware will be purchased directly from U.S. Navy inventories.”

If the deal goes through, the sale would “improve India's ability to address current and future threats by increasing the stockpile of anti-submarine weapons for its MH-60R helicopters,” DSCA said.

More broadly, it would “support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by helping to strengthen the strategic relationship between the United States and India and improving the security of a key defense partner that continues to be an important force for political stability, peace, and economic progress in the Indo-Pacific and South Asia regions.”

Finally, Bucharest is one step closer to acquiring four AN/MPQ-64 F1 Sentinel radar systems from RTX, along with a variety of non-major defense equipment such as encryption devices, Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) devices and anti-enemy devices. Spoofing technology. The mobile three-dimensional radar systems support “multiple command and control interfaces and provide consistent air surveillance and fire control data for weapons combating unmanned aerial systems, cruise missiles, and fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft.” “It works at both fixed locations and in highly mobile maneuver missions,” it says in an RTX description.

“The proposed sale will enhance Romania’s ability to address current and future threats by providing a credible force capable of deterring adversaries and participating in NATO operations. “Romania will have no difficulty incorporating this equipment into its armed forces,” DSCA said.

The announcements do not represent what the final contracts might look like, as the number of units and prices could change as negotiations progress. Congress could also step in and suspend the agreements, but that rarely happens.