France has received U.S. State Department approval for the purchase of additional Hellfire missiles through the U.S. Foreign Military Sales program.

The new French request is specifically for an additional 200 Lockheed Martin AGM-114K1A Hellfire missiles, Hellfire missile conversion, blast fragmentation sleeves and installation kits, containers, and transportation.

The total estimated cost of the deal is $30 million.

The U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which manages the FMS program, said in its notification to Congress that the additional missiles will meet France's operational requirements for a precision guided tactical missile for its Tigre Attack Helicopter.

"The purchase will directly support French forces actively engaged in operations in Mali and Northern Africa, providing them the capability to successfully engage targets with minimal collateral damage.

The new missiles and equipment requested would be added to an earlier $42 million deal for 112 AGM-114K1A Hellfire missiles, 102 AGM-114N1A Hellfire missiles, 50 ATM-114Q1A Hellfire training missiles, plus other equipment. Some of the equipment has already been delivered to France.

U.S. Army orders small arms ammunition
Dulles, Va. (UPI) May 3, 2016 - Orbital ATK has received new U.S. Army orders to produce small arms ammunition at its Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Missouri.

The orders -- for .50 caliber, 5.56mm and 7.62mm ammunition -- are for the U.S. Army and allied military forces and carry a combined value of $210 million.

"This latest order continues a long history of supplying only the best ammunition to our warfighters," said Kent Holiday, vice president and general manager of Orbital ATK's Small Caliber Systems division of the Defense Systems Group.

"Every round is produced with the highest quality because we know that those defending freedom depend upon the good work of our employees."

Orbital ATK provided no information on production schedules to fulfill the orders.

Orbital ATK has operated Lake City facility for the U.S. Army since 2000. The plant has produced about 15 billion rounds of small caliber ammunition to support U.S. and allied warfighters.