US Approves $681M Military Sales to Norway, Belgium

The U.S. State Department has approved significant Foreign Military Sales to NATO allies Norway and Belgium, reinforcing U.S. support for political stability and defense capabilities in Europe. Norway is set to acquire 816 GBU-39B Small Diameter Bombs and associated equipment, valued at approximately $113 million, with Boeing as the principal contractor, enhancing Norway's ability to address current and future threats and improve interoperability with the U.S. and NATO. This sale follows a prior 2023 approval for Norway to purchase up to 580 GBU-53B bombs, highlighting ongoing U.S. support for Norway's defense modernization. Meanwhile, Belgium has received approval for a potential $567.8 million sale of AIM-9X Sidewinder missiles, including 320 Block II and 258 Block II+ variants, with RTX Corporation as the principal contractor; these missiles will bolster Belgium's defense capabilities, particularly for its F-35 fleet. Both sales are designed to strengthen NATO's collective defense posture without impacting U.S. defense readiness, and involve comprehensive logistics, training, and technical support. The agreements also demonstrate continued U.S. commitment to supporting its NATO allies through advanced military technology transfers.