FMS: Kuwait Wants TOW-2A/B Anti-Armor Missiles

Released on Thursday, August 04, 2005

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Kuwait of 436 TOW-2A/B Anti-armor Guided Missiles as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $19 million.

The Government of Kuwait has requested a possible sale of 288 TOW-2A missiles, 4 TOW-2A Fly-to-Buy missiles, 140 TOW-2B missiles, and 4 TOW-2B Fly-to-Buy missiles. Also included are spare and repair parts, supply support, publications and technical data, engineering change proposals, US Government and contractor technical and logistics personnel services and other related elements of program support.

The estimated cost is $19 million. Kuwait will use these TOW-2 missiles to upgrade its air-to-surface day/night anti-armor defense capability and provide close air support for military ground forces. Kuwait will augment its land forces with these TOW-2B anti-armor guided missiles. This weapon sale will greatly enhance the coalition efforts within the region.

Kuwait, which already has TOW-2 missiles in its inventory, will have no difficulty absorbing these additional missiles. The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the region.

The prime contractor will be the Raytheon Corporation of Mesa, Arizona. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale. Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional US Government or contractor representatives to Kuwait. This notice of a potential sale is required by law; it does not mean that the sale has been concluded.