A Defense Ministry spokesman explained today that Israel is not seeking to buy new Hawk anti-aircraft missile batteries from the U.S. but simply to update the obsolescent batteries it has possessed for years.
The spokesman was responding to a Pentagon announcement yesterday that it intends to sell Israel 200 improved Hawk mobile anti-aircraft missiles. The announcement appeared calculated to reduce Congressional opposition to the proposed sale of mobile Hawk batteries to Jordan. The Israeli spokesman stressed that the new Hawk missiles would represent a qualitative, not quantitative improvement in Israel’s air defense system.
“Israel’s request means preservation of current capability, while the Jordanian request reflects a desire to build-up and improve its air defense capability,” the spokesman said.
He claimed that the Hawk missiles which Jordan already has, and which are fixed in concrete, not mobile, “are of a new and improved model and have the standard missile complement,” in contrast to Israel’s Hawks which are out of date. The Israeli statement referred to 100 new missiles, not the 200 mentioned by the Pentagon.
$47 MILLION SALE TO SUPPLEMENT ISRAEL’S SYSTEM
The Pentagon announcement said the $47 million sale would “supplement” Israel’s current supply of Hawk missiles “ensuring an adequate war reserve and adequate missiles for annual training requirements.” The sale of mobile Hawk missiles to Jordan created a furore in Israel after Defense Secretary Caspar Weinberger reportedly offered them during his visit to Amman last month.
The Reagan Administration subsequently denied that it intends to sell the Hawks to Jordan or that Jordan has requested them. But Weinberger, who supports the sale, insists that immobile anti-aircraft defense systems are not useful. He repeated that in a speech to the National Press Club Monday and indicated that Jordan would make its formal request for the mobile Hawks when the Joint U.S.-Jordan Defense Commission has its next scheduled meeting in Amman April 28-29.
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