E-Paper
US plans to sell arms worth over $500 mn to Iraq
The Pentagon says the sale will enhance the ability of the Iraqi forces to sustain themselves in their efforts to bring stability to the country.
The US Defence Department has notified Congress that it plans to sell small arms, ammunition and explosives worth over $500 million to Iraq and missiles costing $71 million to Turkey.
The proposed arms sale to Iraq will include grenades, tracers and blasting caps, apart from associated equipment and services. The total value could be as high as $508 million.
The sale "will enhance the ability of the Iraqi forces to sustain themselves in their efforts to bring stability to the country and prevent overflow of unrest into neighbouring countries," the Pentagon's Defence Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) said in a statement Friday.
The agency said the proposed sale of equipment and support would not affect the basic military balance in the region, and there would be no adverse impact on US defence readiness.
The DSCA also notified Congress of possible sales to Turkey of 105 AIM-9X All-Up-Round SIDEWINDER missiles, 78 LAU-129 launchers, 22 captive air-training missiles and missile containers. The total value could touch $71 million.
The agency said the proposed sale was part of Turkey's modernization efforts and would enhance its current air-to-air intercept capability.
The notice of a proposed sale is required by law and Congress has the power to reject it.
