The Defense Department announced this weekend that negotiations have been completed to transfer to Israel enough Hawk supersonic anti aircraft missiles to equip one battalion at a cost of $25,000,000. U.S. military authorities declined to say exactly how many missiles and launchers were involved, but pointed out that an American battalion is equipped with 24 launchers.
A missile battalion is made up of four firing batteries, six launchers each, and one non firing headquarters battery. It is presumed that Israel is establishing a similar unit. The Hawk is designed for use against attacking planes flying at low and medium altitudes. American units in the NATO structure are equipped with Hawks for use against aerial attackers at moderate range and with Nike missiles for high flying targets. The Hawk missile is mobile and may be moved rapidly. It is fired by launchers which may be discharged individually or by coordinated batteries.
The Defense Department said it could not publish the exact number of missiles or launchers on grounds of military security. A final exchange of letters has taken place to verify the sale. Some Israeli military personnel have already been trained at the U.S. Air Defense School, Fort Bliss, Texas, and others are scheduled for training at Huntsville, Ala., and elsewhere, for training in maintenance of the sensitive equipment.
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