USD 10.7b arms deal for Iraq
Photo: M1A1 Abrams tank.
The US Department of Defense has approved up to USD 10.7b in arms sales for Iraq over the past week, including M1A1 Abrams tanks.
The proposed tank sale would also include some equipment built by Honeywell International Inc and General Motors Corp, the Pentagon"s Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which oversees foreign arms sales, said in a notice to Congress dated July 31 but posted on its website on Friday.
On Thursday, the DSCA had announced the proposed sale of up to USD 2.4b worth of helicopters, missiles, rockets and other related equipment and services to Iraq. The principal contractors for the helicopter sale would be Boeing or Textron Inc's Bell Helicopter unit, it said.
The package of arms deals also includes: Up to USD 3b in light armored vehicles and associated equipment, with principal contractors including General Dynamics, Raytheon Co, BAE Systems Plc and Oshkosh Corp.
Lawmakers have 30 days to block the sales from the day they are notified, but such action is rare since big weapons sales are carefully vetted before being publicly announced.
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