The U.S. State Department has approved the sale of 46 SM-2 missiles to Denmark for an estimated cost of $ 152 million.
This proposed sale would support Denmark’s anti-air warfare capabilities for the Royal Danish Navy’s IVER HUITFELDT Frigate Class ships. The SM-2 Block IIIA missiles, combined with the Anti-Air Warfare System (AAWS) combat system, will provide significantly enhanced area defense capabilities over critical Northern Europe air-and-sea-lines of communication. Denmark will have no difficulty absorbing this equipment and support into its armed forces.
This doesn’t mean that Denmark has bought the missiles yet. It just means that the sale is approved in case Denmark does decide to buy them. The price tag is also the subject of negotiations so it will probably end up lower than $ 152 million.
Denmark will use the missiles to increase the capabilities of its Iver Huitfelds class frigates to include area air defense. Some would say that it is about time. Denmark spent a lot of money on Mark 41 launchers when the frigates were built, but so far they have remained empty.
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