The Bush administration announced Monday that it intends to sell $773 million in Apache attack helicopters and Hellfire air-to-ground missiles to Egypt and Israel.
The sale is expected to become official in the first week of March, when the 30-day period expires for Congress to veto the request, since no opposition is expected.
Under the proposal, Egypt would buy $488 million worth of weaponry, consisting of 24 Apaches, 492 Hellfires, as well as launchers, spare engines and other equipment.
Israel would buy 19 Apaches and 539 Hell-fires, as well as the same support equipment as Egypt, worth $285 million.
A pro-Israel source said the helicopters are much more important to Israel than the missiles. Another such source explained the helicopters meet a “serious operational requirement” for Israel.
The sources said the timing of the helicopter sale is important, because the administration has announced that it will be shutting down the production line on its Apache helicopters by Sept. 30, 1991.
The missiles do not upset the balance of power between Israel and its Arab neighbors, said one source.
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