Posted on 08/22/2004 1:00:14 PM PDT by yonif
TEL AVIV [MENL] -- The United States has rejected an Israeli request for an advanced airborne munition.
Israeli sources said the Bush administration has withheld approval for an Israeli request for the sale of advanced versions of the Hellfire anti-tank missile. The sources said the models were deployed on U.S. Army AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters during the war in Iraq in 2003.
The models sought by Israel are the L, M and N models of the Hellfire. Israel has been supplied with earlier versions of the missile.
The Israel Air Force has sought to procure the latest models of the Hellfire as part of preparations for the arrival of new Apache Longbow helicopters. The L, M and N models, with a millimeter wave fire-and-forget guidance system, were regarded as having performed extremely well in Iraq in urban warfare as well as anti-armor operations.
Conversion kits sold separately. ;-)
Knowing the Israelis, if they really want this they'll just design a better model for themselves. Those guys make great high-tech stuff.
I totally support the Israeli's.
They have in the past, however, transfered sensitive military technology given them by the U.S. to China.
If this move is to prevent the hemorrhaging of American military secrets to our adversaries, I have to applaud it.
The Israeli's are good---in some areas ahead of the Americans.
They are flying and driving American equipment, Using American battlefield doctrine, and probably on a par with American military.
They have developed some electronic countermeasures, Some battlefield hardware, and have participated in joint development of some weapons systems with the U.S.
If they had to invent and advance complex weapons systems entirely on their own, they would in many cases not have them.
Shalom,
why do the Israelis need an anti-tank missle? they don't fight tanks, and are in no danger of fighting tanks.
I'm afraid I don't understand your question. Isreal has fought several wars that included major tank battles. These hellfire missiles have obvious uses in urban situations, but they're also ideally suited to taking out tanks on a battlefield. The reasons why Isreal would want them are obvious to me. I hope they'll get them soon, or design their own.
Excellent point . I am a huge supporter of israel but their selling of arms to china is unforgivable. Taiwan truly is a freedom loving country with everyone trying to destroy it.
I agree. I have been to Taiwan, and the people there loved Americans. Why Nixon decided to support the corrupt Red Chinese and stab Taiwan in the back is beyond me. I am dismayed that Israel would do business with Red China, seeing how Taiwan-vs-China is an Asian parallel to Israel-vs-Islam. Of course, sadly, I suspect it all boils down to money.
You know what Yonif if Israel really want it these equipment make themselves if US State dept run smack chat on this
It is Colin Powell decision
I hope when Dubya get reelect this Novemeber you know he is I hope he get rid of Powell
Slight correction here-Israel used to a supplier to China till 2001-US pressure & Chinese arms sales to Iran & Syria made them stop.Now Israel's biggest buyer is India(not exactly pals with China).
Israel has quiet a few indegnious anti-tank systems under it's sleeve-
The Gill/Spike family which is available in a variety of range & capabilities & has been sold to Singapore,the Netherlands & Poland to name a few.
The LAHAT laser guided missile is designed to be fired from tanks ,helos & UAVs.The Israeli Merkava MK4 & the Indian Arjun MBT both are known to have been equipped to fire the LAHAT(while the Germans want to integrate on their Leopard2 tanks) & the US army Hunter drones have been testing the LAHAT.
I shutter to think of where US weapons given to terrorist Egypt are ending up.
I am a huge supporter of israel but their selling of arms to china is unforgivable.
Israel no longer sells anything to China after understandings reached with the US. On the other hand, the US continues to supply weapons to terror states like Egypt and other Arab states bent on destroying Israel.
Egypt.
Israeli arms sales to China started in the late 1970s & 80s when the Europeans & American companies were making a beeline to China following Deng Xia Ping's decision to modernise the PLA.How does one explain the presence of a ASW torpedo which is strikingly similar to a 1st generation MK-46 & black hawk helos in China's arsenal & mind you these were not sold by Carter or Clinton & moreover most Israeli arms sales take place with US consent(read permission) given the amount of American money invested in Israel's defence research.
If Israel were to offer an apology to Taiwan,would the US offer one to Israel & others for selling arms to Saudi Arabia,Egypt, the UAE & Pakistan to name a few-they are no less barbaric than the Chinese.
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