[Reuters] Andrea Shalal-Esa - The U.S. government on Tuesday said it had approved up to $330 million in three separate arms deals for Israel for bombs, Patriot missile upgrades, and anti-armor weapons. Sources tracking a much bigger deal for 25 F-35 Joint Strike Fighter jets, plus an option for at least 50 more, said that agreement could be approved later this month. The Pentagon is solidly backing Israel's request for the fighter jets, which are being designed by the U.S. and eight other countries to replace the F-16. Maj. Gen. Charles Davis, the Pentagon's program chief for the F-35, said last month that Israel was getting the F-35 into its fleet "as quickly as we possibly can."
2008-09-10 01:00:00Full ArticleBACK Visit the Daily Alert Archive