Israel could be supplied with the Hawk ground-to-air, supersonic missiles more quickly, if the United States Army were willing to wait for delivery of those missiles it had ordered, Charles Adams, president of the Raytheon Corporation, the firm making these defensive weapons, declared here today.
Mr. Adams, who came here yesterday to discuss implementation of the American Government’s agreement to let Israel buy the Hawks, said his firm has not as yet met the U. S. Army’s needs for the devices. The Hawks, he declared, are in production.
Mr. Adams met today first with Deputy Defense Minister Shimon Peres, then with Prime Minister David Ben-Gurion. The latter is also Defense Minister. The final date for delivery of Hawks to Israel, said Mr. Adams, will be determined by negotiation between Israel and the U. S. Government.
Speaking of the Hawk’s efficiency, Mr. Adams said that no aircraft has as yet been designed that can withstand attack by the Hawk. Tests showed, he said, that the Hawk can be used not only ground-to-air but also ground-to-ground. He said his mission here was not to discuss with Israel either the price of the missiles or dates of delivery. Those details, he said, are up to the two governments, the United States and Israel.
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