FMS: Israel Seeks 3,800 Missiles and 293,000 Munitions

Released on Monday, October 29, 2007

WASHINGTON, October 30, 2007 � On October 29, 2007 the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Israel of missiles and munitions as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $1.329 billion.

The Government of the Israel has requested a possible sale of:

Major Defense Equipment (MDE)

2,000 Radio Frequency (RF) TOW 2A Missiles

14 RF TOW 2A Fly-to-buy Missiles

1,000 AGM-114K3 HELLFIRE II Missiles

200 AGM-114L3 HELLFIRE II Longbow Missiles

500 AGM-114M3 HELLFIRE II Missiles

100 PATRIOT Guidance Enhanced Missile Plus (GEM+)

150,048 M433 40MM High Explosive Dual Purpose (HEDP) Cartridges

8,000 M930 120MM Illuminating Cartridges

30,003 M889A1 81MM HE Cartridges with M935 Fuzes

100,000 M107 155MM HE Projectiles

5,000 M141 83MM Bunker Defeat Munitions

Also, includes non-MDE cartridges, projectiles, charges, fuzes, containers, spare and repair parts, test and tool sets, personnel training and equipment, publications, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics personnel services, Quality Assurance Team support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $1.329 billion.

Israel's strategic position makes it vital to the United States' interests throughout the Middle East. Our 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. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives.

Israel will have no difficulty absorbing these additional missiles and munitions into its armed forces. The proposed sale will not affect the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractors will be:

HELLFIRE Systems Limited Liability Company of Orlando, Florida Raytheon Company of Tucson, Arizona Raytheon Company of Tewksbury, Massachusetts. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any U.S. Government or contractor representatives to the Israel.

There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.

This notice of a potential sale is required by law; it does not mean that the sale has been concluded.