European NATO allies will sign agreements with US defense companies at the summit in Ankara to move part of weapons production and maintenance to Europe, Politico reports, citing documents.
The package of agreements provides for the launch of European production of FIM-92 Stinger short-range surface-to-air missiles, a study of the possibility of expanding production of AIM-120C-8 AMRAAM missiles, and the creation in Europe of a facility to service PAC-3 missiles used in Patriot systems.
On Stinger, Germany and the Netherlands are to create European capacity to produce the portable missiles manufactured by RTX.
Under the agreement, the US will authorize production in Europe but retain the foreign military sales mechanism. This will allow Washington to control the final deliveries of these weapons.
Belgium, Canada, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway are taking part in the AMRAAM project. One more country has not yet been determined. This is not a production contract, but a statement of intent to study the possibility of expanding production in Europe.
Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and the US are also expected to sign a statement of intent to create a European PAC-3 missile maintenance facility together with Lockheed Martin.
Another initiative concerns the production of ATACMS tactical missiles and involves Lockheed Martin and Rheinmetall.
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