US approves $1.2 billion missile sale to Germany

Washington: The United States on Thursday announced the approval of a $1.23 billion sale of up to 400 advanced air to air missiles and related equipme...

Washington: The United States on Thursday announced the approval of a $1.23 billion sale of up to 400 advanced air-to-air missiles and related equipment to NATO ally Germany.

"The proposed sale will improve Germany's capability to meet current and future threats by providing increased air-to-air capability for the German F-35 program and supporting German and shared NATO planning, training, and operational requirements," the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement.

It will also "support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally that is a force for political stability and economic progress in Europe," DSCA said.

The State Department approved the possible sale of the missiles to Germany and DSCA provided the required notification to the US Congress, which still needs to sign off on the transaction.

The US announcement came after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed to take "all necessary measures to ensure effective deterrence against... violations of airspace and other attacks by the Russian military."