Pentagon Aims To Sell Israel Fighter Jets

Team Infidel

Forum Spin Doctor
Wall Street Journal
October 1, 2008
Pg. 21

By August Cole
The Defense Department formally notified Congress that it wants to sell Israel as many as 75 of the latest-model fighter jet, which is being developed under a contract led by Lockheed Martin Corp.
A sale could be worth as much as $15 billion. It would mark the first order from outside the original team of countries working on the jet, the F-35 Lightning II, also known as the Joint Strike Fighter.
The aircraft is intended to replace an array of fighter and attack jets in the American arsenal. Many foreign buyers use those same planes and also are seeking to upgrade. Lockheed is the lead contractor, and the engines for the jets will come from either United Technologies Corp.'s Pratt & Whitney unit or General Electric Co.
According to the Pentagon, the F-35 program will cost almost $300 billion to develop and buy about 2,400 planes, including different versions of the aircraft for the Air Force, Navy and Marines.
Israel has indicated it wants at least 25 jets based on the Air Force version. It may buy an additional 50 jets, which could include a model being developed for the Marines that is capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings. The deal includes spare parts and services.
In its announcement, the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said it told Congress last week about the possible sale. For Israel, the agency said, the planes will "enhance its air-to-air and air-to-ground self-defense capacity." Such a deal won't "affect the basic military balance in the region," according to the agency.
The possible sale, which doesn't require congressional authorization, would be the culmination of years of Israeli interest in the jets.
A Lockheed spokesman said the sale "would be an important first step in expanding interest in the Joint Strike Fighter beyond the U.S. government and eight international F-35 partner nations."
Foreign sales of the F-35 are key for Lockheed and the Pentagon, which hopes to keep costs down by spreading them out over more planes. Eight U.S. allies, including the U.K. and Australia, are involved in developing the plane and likely will buy jets as well.
The U.S. is expected to get the first deliveries in 2010. Other countries would receive them in batches in subsequent years.
The announcement marks the latest in a series of significant U.S. arms sales to the region. Iraq is interested in advanced tanks, fighters and helicopters and has more than $10 billion of U.S. weapons deals lined up. The United Arab Emirates is set to get sophisticated antimissile systems worth more than $7 billion.
Lockheed stands to benefit from other potential sales to Israel. This summer, the U.S. said Israel wants to buy four advanced Lockheed warships, called the Littoral Combat Ship, designed for coastal operations. That deal could be worth as much as $1.9 billion to Lockheed, according to the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
The longtime U.S. ally is also seeking to buy nine Lockheed C-130 transport planes and related items, worth $1.9 billion. Israel already flies F-16 fighters, which are made by Lockheed.
 
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