DSCA provided the necessary certifications and alerted the US Congress on Monday to this possible sale at the request of The Hague, the agency said in a press release.
The Netherlands has previously asked the United States to procure eight MK 41 Vertical Launching Systems (VLS) Baseline (B/L) VII Strike Length Launcher modules to equip the future anti-submarine warfare frigate, which will equip the Belgian Navy by the end of the decade and the Netherlands. Belgian military sources confirmed to Belga on Tuesday that these MK 41 VLS systems are intended to equip its future ships with two launchers per frigate, each capable of carrying four air-to-air Evolved SeaSparrow Missiles.
The DSCA noted that the VLS launchers are also capable of launching SM-2 anti-aircraft missiles, and “the sale of this equipment will not change the basic military balance in the region.” Lockheed Martin Corporation will be the primary supplier. Details of the deal were not disclosed.
