Reagan Administration Considering Jordan’s Request for Helicopters

The Reogan Administration has disclosed that it is discussing with

pertinent members of Congress the request of Jordan to buy 24 Cobra helicopters. State Department spokesman William Dyess said the discussions with Congress are informal and he declined to say what Jordan’s specific reason is for acquiring the equipment, except that Jordan wanted them for defense.

The proposed sale to Jordan is the third under consideration to an Arab power since the Reagan Administration took office on Jan. 20. It is considering the sale of additional refueling tanks and bomb racks to enhance the capabilities of 60 F-15s owned by Saudi Arabia and also the sale of C-130 aircraft to Algeria that can be used as troop carriers.

“Jordan has had a long-standing defense relationship with the United States and we consider Jordan to be a friend, “Dyess said, last Friday. “They want these helicopters and we are prepared to sell them.” He made the statement in reply to a question as to the justification the United States would have to sell them when there is a possibility that Syrian and Jordanian forces may engage in warfare.

Dyess said, in relation to the possibility of a Jordanian-Syrian war, that he would not relate the sale “to any specific problems except that Jordan feels it needs them for self-defense.” He said that the sale of the helicopters has been discussed with the Jordanian government through the Joint Military Commission that was established in 1974.

Dyess said “in these discussions we have repeatedly expressed our willingness in principle to sell Cobras” to Jordan. Asked whether Jordan has made a commitment of reciprocity to U.S. interests, such as willingness to join the Camp David peace process, Dyess replied that he had “no indication that such quid pro quo was required.” (By Joseph Polakoff)