June 26 (Reuters) - The U.S. State Department said on Tuesday it approved a potential sale of five of Lockheed-Martin Corp's Aegis Weapons Systems to NATO member Spain for $860.4 million.
Earlier this month here, NATO defence ministers agreed to a plan to protect the North Atlantic against increased Russian naval strength, move troops more quickly across Europe and have more combat-ready battalions, ships and planes.
"The proposed sale will support the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of a NATO ally that is an important force for political stability and economic progress in Europe," the State Department said in a statement.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, a unit of the Department of Defense, delivered on Tuesday a certification notifying Congress of the possible sale.
The prime contractors will be Lockheed Martin, Raytheon and General Dynamics, the State Department said.
Reporting by Uday Sampath in Bengaluru; Editing by Arun Koyyur
