April 19, 2013

WASHINGTON (JTA) — Israel is set to become the first nation to buy the V-22 Osprey, an U.S.-made military aircraft which combines helicopter manoeuvrability with airplane speed and range.

The sale, which according to the New York Times will be finalized during the Middle East visit next week by U.S. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, would also supply Israel with new missiles designed to take out an adversary’s air-defense radars.

Israel would also buy new KC-35 refueling tanker planes.  

Israel willpay for the supplies with aid money it receives from the United States, according to the report Friday. 

The transaction with Israel is part of a $10 billion weapons sale to Middle Eastern countries to help them counter any future threat from Iran, the Times reported. 

The United Arab Emirates would buy 26 F-16 warplanes, a package that could reach $5 billio, along with precision missiles that could be launched from those jets at distant ground targets. Saudi Arabia would buy the same class of advanced missile.

The newspaper said the arms sale, which was outlined to Congress on Thursday, will encounter little opposition from lawmakers.

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