The State Department approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the Netherlands of MQ-9A Block 5 aircraft and related equipment for an estimated cost of $611 million. The Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.
Netherlands has requested to buy up to four MQ-9A Block 5 aircraft; up to three UAV MQ-9 Mobile Ground Control Systems (MGCS); up to eight AN/DAS-4 Multi-Spectral Targeting Systems; and up to 20 Lynx AN/APY-8 Synthetic Aperture Radars. Also included are M299 Hellfire Longbow missile launchers. The estimated total cost is $611 million.
The Netherlands will use the MQ-9A aircraft to support Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) missions and Air Attack and Counter Maritime Operation tasks. The Netherlands already has MQ-9A aircraft in its inventory.
The principal contractor will be General Atomics-Aeronautical Systems, Poway, CA.