l****z 发帖数: 29846 | 1 April 19, 2013
By ROBERT BURNS and DONNA CASSATA, Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Defense Department is working out final details of $
10 billion in sales of warplanes, transport aircraft and advanced missiles
to Israel and two Arab nations amid concerns about the growing threat from
Iran and its disputed nuclear weapons program, Pentagon and congressional
officials said Friday.
The U.S. has spent the past year negotiating with Israel, Saudi Arabia and
the United Arab Emirates on the deals, which come ahead of Defense Secretary
Chuck Hagel's visit to the Middle East starting Sunday.
The officials said the United States will sell to Israel an undisclosed
number of KC-135 aerial refueling planes and V-22 Osprey aircraft, the tilt-
rotor hybrid that can take off and land like a helicopter and then fly like
an airplane, as well as precision-guided missiles and advanced radar for
Israeli fighter aircraft. It would be the first sale of the V-22 to a
foreign nation.
In Israel, officials said the U.S. offer is meant to ensure Israel's
military edge in the region, in light of arms sales the U.S. is advancing in
Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The weaponry is not expected to arrive in Israel for at least two years.
The package for Israel also includes financial aid.
The United Arab Emirates would purchase 26 F-16 warplanes under the deal, as
well as advanced air-launched missiles. Three Pentagon officials who
briefed reporters on the arrangement Friday said the UAE segment of the deal
is valued at $4 billion to $5 billion. They did not specify the value of
the sales to Israel and Saudi Arabia. The Saudis are expected to buy
advanced air-launched missiles.
The Pentagon and congressional officials spoke on condition of anonymity
because they were not authorized to discuss the deals publicly. One official
said the deals were briefed to Congress on Thursday by Wendy Sherman, the
State Department's undersecretary for political affairs, and James Miller,
the Pentagon's undersecretary for policy.
The New York Times first reported the impending sales Thursday.
Hagel will visit Israel, Jordan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab
Emirates. |
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