CASR

Canadian
American
Strategic
Review

Canadian Forces Procurement – US FMS Notice – SM-2 Standard Missile SM-2 Block IIIA Standard  Naval  Surface-to-Air  Missiles — US Foreign Military Sale Notice — Proposed Sale to Canada The SM-2 Standard is the missile part of the armament of Canada's Tribal class air defence destroyers. Designated RIM-66M in US Navy service, the SM-2 missiles make  Tribal class destroyers  interoperable with US battle fleets.  Each Canadian destroyer accomodates 29  SM-2s in an array of Vertical Launcher System (VLS) set flush into its deck forward of the main gun. The Canadian Navy planned  to standardize on the NATO  ESSM (Enhanced Sea Sparrow Missile) which is more compact  than an SM-2. This purchase of Standard missiles, canisters, and  related service, spares, etc., likely represents replenishment of stocks for the Tribal class destroyers which are on the verge of being phased out of service. To satisfy United States law,  the US  Department of  Defense's  Defense Security Cooperation Agency must notify the US Congress of potential exports of any US- made or controlled military equipment through Foreign Military Sales. If approved by Congress, DoD or manufacturer(s) will receive permission to export  to Canada. The text of  the FMS notice (as published by the US DSCA)  is reproduced below: ______________________________________________   Defense Security Cooperation Agency   NEWS RELEASE   On the web: http://www.dsca.mil   Media/Public Contact: (703) 601-3670   Date: 25 June 2002 ______________________________________________ Transmittal No. 02-31 CANADA — Standard Missiles On 25 June [2002],  the  Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified  Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale  [FMS]  to Canada of  SM-2 Standard  missiles and associated equipment and services. The total value if all options are exercised could be as high as [US] $19 Million. The Government of  Canada  has requested a possible sale of  12  SM-2 Block IIIA Standard missiles, 12  MK 13 MOD 0 canisters, containers, spare and  repair parts, supply support,  U.S. Government and  contractor  technical assistance and  other related elements of  logistics support. The estimated cost is [US] $19 million. This proposed sale  will contribute  to the foreign policy and national security ob- jectives of  the United States by improving the military capabilities of  Canada and further weapon system standardization and interoperability with U.S. forces. The  Canadian Navy  requires these defense articles to provide Anti-Aircraft War- fare (AAW) system capability. The evolution of the AAW threat in littoral nations mandates this defense capability.  The Canadian Navy  intends to use the defense articles on their Destroyer Class  [Tribal class]  surface ships to safely operate the SM-2 Block [IIIA] Standard  missiles for self-defense against air and cruise missile threat in Canada  and  the  NATO  theater community.  Canada, which already  has the Standard missile in its inventory, will  have no difficulty absorbing these add- itional missiles. The proposed sale of this equipment and  support will  not affect the basic military balance in the region.  The prime contractor will  be  Raytheon Missile Systems of Tucson, Arizona.  There  are  no offset  agreements  proposed  in connection  with this potential sale. Implementation of  this proposed sale will not  require the assignment of  any add- itional  U.S. Government  or  contractor  representatives  to  Canada. There will be  no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness  as a result of  this pro- posed sale. This notice of a potential sale is required by law; it does not mean that the sale has been concluded.