The US State Department has approved a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to Denmark of Excalibur precision-guided projectiles, the US Defense Security Co-operation Agency (DSCA) announced on 20 August 2024.
The proposed sale, which is worth an estimated USD 121 million (EUR 108 million), has been passed to the US Congress for final approval.
Denmark has requested to buy 339 M982A1 Excalibur projectiles. Also included in the package are portable electronic fire control systems, improved platform integration kits, simple key loaders, spare parts and various aspects of technical, training, logistics and programme support.
“The proposed sale will improve Denmark’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing precision capability equipment and increasing first strike accuracy in its brigades,” the DSCA stated.
It is interesting to note that Denmark has opted for 339 M982A1 Excalibur projectiles in addition to the up to 5,832 M1156 Precision Guidance Kits (PGKs) that the DSCA stated had been approved for the country on 15 August. While both munitions improve the accuracy of 155 mm artillery systems, Excalibur projectiles are more accurate and also extend the range of the systems that use them out to 40 km and beyond using a solid rocket motor, but are consequently more expensive. Excalibur projectiles cost around USD 100,000 per round and produce a circular error probable (CEP) of around 4 m, while M1156 PGKs have a unit cost of around USD 13,500 and have a CEP of within 30 m.
The principal contractor for the Danish Excalibur FMS will be Raytheon out of its facilities in Tucson, Arizona.
