The United States Department of State approved on Friday the sale of up to four MQ-9A Block 5 drones and related equipment to the Netherlands, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency announced. The total value of the potential sale amounts to around $611 million (DSCA), Ednews informs via BBC.
The DSCA said the proposed sale will "support the foreign policy goals and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally" and that the Netherlands already has some MQ-9A aircraft in its inventory. "The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region," the agency said.