Israel wants to spend as much as $1.3 billion on missiles, munitions and associated equipment and services, according to a congressional notification Oct. 30 by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA).
Israel has requested a possible sale of 100 anti-ballistic missile Patriot Guidance Enhanced Missile Plus; 1,700 Hellfire missiles in three variants, 2,014 TOW 2A radio frequency missiles of two kinds, 5,000 M141 83mm bunker defeat munitions and more than 280,000 cartridges of various types.
The request also includes non major defense equipment cartridges, spare and repair parts, fuzes, cartridges, test and tool sets, training and equipment, publications, government and contractor engineering and logistics services and other logistic support.
Israel’s strategic position makes it vital to U.S. interests in the Middle East, and U.S. policy has been to promote Middle East peace, support Israeli commitment to peace with other regional Arab countries, enhance regional stability and promote Israeli readiness and self-sufficiency. “It is vital to the U.S. national interest to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability,” DSCA said, and the proposed sale is consistent with those objectives.
Israel will have no difficulty absorbing the additional missiles and munitions into its armed forces. The proposed sale will not affect the basic military balance in the region, it said.
Principal contractors would be Raytheon [RTN], and Hellfire Systems LLC, a joint venture of Lockheed Martin [LMT] and Boeing [BA].
DSCA said there are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with the potential sale. Additionally, there will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of the possible sale.