Apache and Blackhawk in Afghanistan

An AH-64 Apache gunship helicopter (bottom) and a Blackhawk fly over the US Forward Operating Base at Naray in Kunar province, North East Afghanistan, 15 April 2007. (Getty Images via Daylife)

Related Post:

• US-Saudi $90 Billion Arms Deal

U.S.-Saudi $90 Billion Arms Deal

The Wall Street Journal reports:

The Obama administration is set to notify Congress of plans to offer advanced aircraft to Saudi Arabia worth up to $60 billion, the largest U.S. arms deal ever, and is in talks with the kingdom about potential naval and missile-defense upgrades that could be worth tens of billions of dollars more.

The administration plans to tout the $60 billion package as a major job creator—supporting at least 75,000 jobs, according to company estimates—and sees the sale of advanced fighter jets and military helicopters to key Middle Eastern ally Riyadh as part of a broader policy aimed at shoring up Arab allies against Iran.

...

In a notification to Congress, expected to be submitted this week or next, the administration will authorize the Saudis to buy as many as 84 new F-15 fighters, upgrade 70 more, and purchase three types of helicopters—70 Apaches, 72 Black Hawks and 36 Little Birds, officials said.

The notification triggers a congressional review. Lawmakers could push for changes or seek to impose conditions, and potentially block the deal, though that is not expected.

On top of the $60 billion package of fighter jets and helicopters, U.S. officials are discussing a potential $30 billion package to upgrade Saudi Arabia's naval forces. An official described these as "discreet, bilateral conversations" in which no agreement has yet been reached. That deal could include littoral combat ships, surface vessels intended for operations close to shore, the official said.

Talks are also underway to expand Saudi Arabia's ballistic-missile defenses. The U.S. is encouraging the Saudis to buy systems known as THAAD—Terminal High Altitude Defense—and to upgrade its Patriot missiles to reduce the threat from Iranian rockets. U.S. officials said it was unclear how much this package would be worth.

The U.S. has sought to build up missile defense across the region, and the Saudi package could be similar to one in the United Arab Emirates, officials said. THAAD is built by Lockheed Martin Corp. and Raytheon Co. supplies the system's radar. THAAD is the first system designed to defend against short- and intermediate-range ballistic missiles both inside and outside the Earth's atmosphere. It complements the lower-aimed Patriot missile defense system, providing a layered defense.

...

The Saudis in recent years have broadened their acquisitions to include more European- and Russian-made weaponry. That thinking was partially behind Riyadh's 2007 deal to purchase dozens of Eurofighter fighter planes from BAE Systems PLC, Saudi officials said.

Pro-Israel lawmakers have voiced concerns in the past about arms sales to Saudi Arabia that they say may undercut Israel's military edge and provide support to a government with a poor human rights record.

U.S. officials say the Israelis are increasingly comfortable with the Saudi sale because the planes won't have certain long-range weapons systems. Also, the Israelis are in line to buy a more advanced fighter, the F-35, and should begin to receive them around the same time the Saudis are expected to start getting the F-15s. "We appreciate the administration's efforts to maintain Israel's qualitative military edge, and we expect to continue to discuss our concerns with the administration about the issues," said Michael Oren, the Israeli ambassador to the U.S.

...

The $60 billion deal will be stretched out over five to 10 years, depending on production schedules, training, and infrastructure improvements, officials said.

...

The German Navy's "Main" in Beirut

The UNIFIL Bundeswehr led training of the Lebanese Navy, held on one of the main ships of the German Navy, the tender "Main". (Demotix Images - 07/09/2010 via Daylife)

LAF-UNIFIL Joint Military Exercises 01.09.10

French soldiers from the United Nations Interim Forces In Lebanon (UNIFIL) fire their artillery during a joint exercise with Lebanese Army Forces in the village of Naqura south of Beirut on September 01, 2010. The Field Artillery Group, part of UNIFIL Quick Reaction Force, and LAF Artillery took part in the exercise named 'Neptune Thunder' in an area about a Kilometer south of UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqura near the Lebanese Israeli border. (Getty Images via Daylife)

France Offered Lebanon 100 HOT Missiles

Asharq al Awsat reports:

... a high level French official informed Asharq Al-Awsat that French Defense Minister Herve Morin had sent a letter to his Lebanese counterpart Elias Murr in May – via the French Army Chief of Staff who was visiting Lebanon at the time – informing him that Paris was "ready" to deliver 100 HOT missiles to Beirut.  The HOT [High Subsonic Optical Remote-Guided Fired from Tube] missiles is a long-range anti-tank missile system designed by Euromissile that Beirut want to arm its French-designed Gazelle army helicopters with. 

The French official acknowledged that Israel "protested" the French decision ... and that Washington raised "question marks" ... However he also "categorically denied" that Paris had "given in to pressure" and that this was behind the deal not being completed.

The senior French official placed the blame for this arms deal's failure or delay upon Lebanon, citing the state of "confusion" that the Lebanese administration is suffering from, especially with regards to defense affairs.

Lebanese Army on Patrol: Sidon - May 2010

Lebanese special forces army, stand on their armored personal carriers as they patrol during the municipal elections in the southern port city of Sidon, Lebanon, on Sunday, May 23, 2010. Tens of thousands of Lebanese headed to ballot stations Sunday to vote in the third of four-stage municipal elections in south Lebanon. Thousands of Lebanese troops have been sent to the south to try to prevent municipal elections from triggering violence between political rivals.(AP Photo via DayLife)

ISF Displays Harleys

Members of Lebanon's Internal Security Forces inspect Harley-Davidson motorcycles during a donation ceremony in Dbayeh, north of Beirut May 18, 2010. The U.S. Embassy in Lebanon donated the motorcycles to the Internal Security Forces during a ceremony held today. (Reuters Pictures via Daylife)