The Israeli Air Force has been strengthened by the acquisition of more of France’s newest interceptor, the Mirage Jet, and the Israeli Navy has been enlarged with additional ships and increased with locally produced various types of new weapons, Israeli military leaders reported today.
The Israeli Chief of Staff, General Zvi Tsur, commented in a statement on the recent threat by Syria that it would forcibly oppose completion of Israel’s largest irrigation plan. He declared that the Israel armed forces could assure Israel’s development plans. Israel is working on a project to tap Lake Tiberias in the North for irrigation of the Negev in the South.
General Tsur also reported that the Israeli Air Force successfully operated the Mirage interceptor last year, and that more planes of the same type will be received next year. He declared that Israeli armored equipment had been enlarged by additional tanks and by renovation of older tanks. He said that, recently, the Israeli Ordinance Corps modified British built Centurion tanks.
Special attention is being given to preparation for installation of the American Hawk ground to air supersonic missile, which will be received shortly, he reported. The Hawks will make possible a significant improvement in Israel’s anti-aircraft defenses, he added.
Deputy Defense Minister Shimon Peres reported that Israel’s military industry had developed new types of weapons, and that it also was producing the guns used by the Mirage.
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