US Greenlights Sale of $150 Million Worth of Artillery Projectiles
The Pentagon skipped a congressional review of the deal, for the second time in December
Mandi Kogosowski
| 30/12/2023
Israeli artillery unit fires at Hamas targets near the Israel-Gaza border. December 28, 2023. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has approved selling the Israeli government M107 155mm projectiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $147.5 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on Friday but skipped the process of congressional review.
According to DSCA, The Government of Israel has requested 155mm ancillaries (fuzes, primers, and charges) to be added to previously implemented cases. The original FMS cases, valued at $96.51 million, included 4,792 rounds of M107 155mm artillery ammunition (MDE); 52,229 rounds of M795 155mm artillery ammunition; and 30,000 M4 propelling charges, along with associated technical documentation and logistics support services.
The Secretary of State has determined and provided detailed justification to Congress that an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale to the Government of Israel of the above defense articles and services in the national security interests of the United States, thereby waiving the Congressional review requirements under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended.
The State Department announced that “it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives.” It also noted that Israel will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense, and that the proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
On Thursday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III called Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant today to discuss Israel's military campaign in Gaza and preparations for the stabilization phase that will follow major combat operations.
The ministers also discussed threats to regional security, including Hizballah's destabilizing activities in southern Lebanon, Iran-aligned militia attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, and Houthi assaults against international commerce in the Red Sea.
The Pentagon skipped a congressional review of the deal, for the second time in December
Israeli artillery unit fires at Hamas targets near the Israel-Gaza border. December 28, 2023. REUTERS/Violeta Santos Moura
US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken has approved selling the Israeli government M107 155mm projectiles and related equipment for an estimated cost of $147.5 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on Friday but skipped the process of congressional review.
According to DSCA, The Government of Israel has requested 155mm ancillaries (fuzes, primers, and charges) to be added to previously implemented cases. The original FMS cases, valued at $96.51 million, included 4,792 rounds of M107 155mm artillery ammunition (MDE); 52,229 rounds of M795 155mm artillery ammunition; and 30,000 M4 propelling charges, along with associated technical documentation and logistics support services.
The Secretary of State has determined and provided detailed justification to Congress that an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale to the Government of Israel of the above defense articles and services in the national security interests of the United States, thereby waiving the Congressional review requirements under Section 36(b) of the Arms Export Control Act, as amended.
The State Department announced that “it is vital to U.S. national interests to assist Israel to develop and maintain a strong and ready self-defense capability. This proposed sale is consistent with those objectives.” It also noted that Israel will use the enhanced capability as a deterrent to regional threats and to strengthen its homeland defense, and that the proposed sale of this equipment and support will not alter the basic military balance in the region.
On Thursday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III called Israeli Minister of Defense Yoav Gallant today to discuss Israel's military campaign in Gaza and preparations for the stabilization phase that will follow major combat operations.
The ministers also discussed threats to regional security, including Hizballah's destabilizing activities in southern Lebanon, Iran-aligned militia attacks against U.S. forces in Iraq and Syria, and Houthi assaults against international commerce in the Red Sea.
