Posted on 04/27/2005 4:01:20 AM PDT by IAF ThunderPilot
The Pentagon has informed the US congress that Israel has requested to purchase 100 laser-guided smart bombs, which could potentially be used to target and destroy underground bunkers, Israel Radio reported.
The cost of the deal would reach $30 million.
Pentagon officials said that the deal would not effect the balance of power in the Middle East, although American military experts suggested that Israel could use the bombs to attack Iranian nuclear facilities.
The laser-guided bombs, manufactured by the Lockheed Martin Corporation, can be carried by F-15 fighter jets.
Congress has a 30-day deadline to decide on whether or not to allow the deal to go forth.
Israel may be seeking to use the so-called 'bunker busters' if and when it decides to target Iranian nuclear facilities.
On Sunday, Iran said announced it would resume uranium enrichment regardless of the outcome of its negotiations with three European powers over its nuclear program, the Iranian Foreign Ministry said.
Spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi said the Europeans appeared to be serious in seeking an agreement with Iran. But he added that any settlement had to respect Iran's right, as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty, to enrich uranium.
The Europeans have been offering economic incentives in the hope that Iran will turn its temporary suspension of uranium enrichment activities into a permanent freeze.
Asefi said Iran would not continue its suspension of enrichment for long.
"It is not a matter of a year, but months," he said of the suspension, which was imposed last year to boost confidence ahead of negotiations.
Doesn't Israel have a robust capacity to design and manufacture its own weaponry?
What is the advantage of buying Lockheed-Martin's product if they can make their own?
"What is the advantage of buying Lockheed-Martin's product if they can make their own?"
Cost to manufacture and retool. To build a line to create this can cost more than 30 mil. Easier to just buy.
Guided bombs basically all use the same control package, a laser guided head and variable rear control vanes that are mounted onto standard bombs of various size and configuration. The GBU-28 bunker buster used the standard control package mounted onto a cutdown cannon barrel (really) packed with explosive. Israel can build their own bunker busters, so my guess is that a purchase of pre-made bombs indicates a short time frame for deployment of the weapon. ;)
Which bomb?
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.