US approves foreign military sale of Precision Guided Munitions to South Korea.

On August 25, 2021, the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced that the State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the Republic of Korea of Precision Guided Munitions and related equipment for an estimated cost of $258 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on August 25.

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Load crew members, assigned to the 28th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, 37th Aircraft Maintenance Unit use a munitions lift truck, to load a GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munition into a B-1B Lancer (Picture source: US Air Force)

The Republic of Korea has requested to buy 3,953 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) Guidance Kits, KMU-556 for GBU-31; 1,981 JDAM Guidance Kits, KMU-557 for GBU-31, GBU-56; 1,179 JDAM Guidance Kits, KMU-572 for GBU-38; and 1,755 FMU-139 Fuze Systems. Also included are DSU-42/B Detectors, Laser Illuminated Target for GBU-56; weapon spare parts, components and accessories; weapons training aids, devices, and spare parts; U.S. Government and contractor engineering, technical assistance, and logistical support services; and other related elements of logistical and program support. The estimated total cost is $258 million.

The proposed sale will improve the Republic of Korea’s capability to meet current and future threats by increasing available stores of munitions on the Korean Peninsula in support of Alliance Operations Plans (OPLANs), as well as to fulfill conditions outlined by the Condition-Based Operational Control (OPCON) Transition Plan. The Republic of Korea will have no difficulty absorbing these articles into its armed forces.

The principal contractor will be Boeing Corporation, St Louis, Missouri. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.