Posted on 10/03/2001 8:43:34 AM PDT by vrwc54
Defense Daily - October 2, 2001
[With thanks to Arms Trade Newswire]Saudi Arabia has been the largest recipient of U.S. foreign military sales, and U.S. military assistance in general, in the Middle East over the last 10 years, accounting for some $33.5 billion in equipment, according to the General Accounting Office. "The four largest recipients of military items in the Middle East have been Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt, and Kuwait," according to Information on U.S. Weapons Deliveries to the Middle East (GAO-01-1078), released by the GAO on Sept. 21.
The report, which does not lay out arms sales by year, was compiled at the request of Rep. John Conyers (D-Mich.). Items transferred over the last 10 years to Saudi Arabia include F-15S strike fighters, E-3A airborne early warning and control aircraft, AH-64 Apache attack helicopters, and Harpoon anti-ship missiles from Boeing [BA], M1A2 Abrams tanks from General Dynamics [GD], Hellfire anti-armor missiles from Lockheed Martin [LMT], and Sparrow and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles, Maverick air-to- surface missiles, Tube-launched Optically-tracked Wire-guided (TOW) anti-tank missiles, and Stinger and Patriot air defense systems from Raytheon [RTN]. Last year, Saudi Arabia requested the purchase of 500 Advanced Medium- Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM) by Raytheon [RTN] to arm its F-15C and F-15S fighter aircraft. In 2000, Saudi Arabia led developing nations receiving arms deliveries, accounting for $7.3 billion, according to a recent report by the Congressional Research Service (CRS) (Defense Daily, Aug. 28).
According to the GAO, Israel is the second largest recipient of U.S. military assistance over the last 10 years, receiving $10.8 billion in foreign military financing for direct commercial sales, $6.4 billion in foreign military sales, $818 million in emergency drawdown equipment, and $767 million in excess defense articles. Equipment Israel has received over the period includes AH-1F Cobra attack helicopters from Bell Helicopter Textron [TXT], F-15I strike fighters, AH-64 Apache and AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters, and Harpoons from Boeing, F-16I fighters, Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS), and Hellfires from Lockheed Martin, E-2C airborne early warning and control aircraft from Northrop Grumman [NOC], AMRAAMs, Sparrows, Sidewinders, Mavericks, TOWs, Stingers, and Patriots from Raytheon, as well as cluster bombs.
Earlier this month, Israel signed an agreement with the U.S. government for an additional 52 F-16I fighters for $2 billion (Defense Daily, Sept. 6). Egypt, with $10 billion in foreign military sales, $2.1 billion in foreign military financing for direct commercial sales, $539 million in excess defense articles, and $13.5 million in emergency drawdown equipment, was the third largest Middle Eastern recipient of U.S. military assistance since 1991.
Over the last 10 years, Egypt has received F-16C/Ds fighters, M1A1 Abrams tanks, Harpoon, Hellfire, Maverick, Sidewinder, Sparrow, Stinger, and TOW missiles, and cluster bombs. The Pentagon last month notified Congress of the possible sale of 26 Lockheed Martin Extended Range Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (ER-MLRS) launchers to Egypt for $354 million (Defense Daily, Aug. 27).
Kuwait, which has received $5.5 billion in foreign military sales, is the fourth largest recipient of U.S. military assistance over the last 10 years. Over that period, it has acquired F/A-18 fighters from Boeing, as well as M1A2 Abrams tanks, and Harpoon, Maverick, Patriot, Sidewinder, Sparrow, and TOW missilesc. United Defense is still awaiting an order for the sale of its M109A6 Paladin self-propelled howitzer to Kuwait after the country selected the system in 1998 (Defense Daily, July 9). Behind Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates is the fifth largest recipient of U.S. military assistance, including $1.4 billion in foreign military sales, since 1991.
Over the last 10 years, the UAE has received Apaches, and Harpoon, Hellfire, Sidewinder, and TOW missiles. According to CRS, the UAE topped the developing world's weapons buyers in 2000 with orders totaling $7.4 billion, including $6.4 billion for the purchase of 80 Block 60 F- 16 fighters from Lockheed Martin [LMT]. Bahrain is the sixth largest recipient of U.S. military assistance in the Middle East over the last 10 years, accounting for $615.7 million in foreign military sales and $402.8 million in excess defense articles.
Bahrain has received F-16 fighters, Cobras, Army Tactical Missile Systems from Lockheed Martin, and AMRAAM, Harpoon, Maverick, Sidewinder, Sparrow, Stinger, and TOW missiles. Late last year, Lockheed Martin received a $6.5 million contract to produce 57 ER-MLRS rocket pods for Bahrain. Each pod contains six rockets (Defense Daily, Dec. 22).
Jordan, meanwhile, received $351.6 million in foreign military sales, $386.4 million in excess defense articles, $139.3 million in emergency drawdown equipment, and $57.6 million in foreign military financing for direct commercial sales over the past 10 years, making it the seventh largest recipient in the region. Since 1991, Jordan has received F-16s, Cobras, and Maverick, Sidewinder, and TOW missiles.
Lebanon received $135.7 million in foreign military sales and $58.8 million in excess defense articles, the eighth largest recipient in the region for the last 10 years.
Oman has received $95.1 million in foreign military sales and $56.4 million in excess defense articles since 1991, including Sidewinder and TOW missiles.
Yemen is the 10th largest recipient in the region since 1991, receiving $5.8 million in foreign military sales, including TOW missiles.
Qatar is the smallest recipient, with just $4.8 million in foreign military sales.
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