The US State Department has approved a deal to sell six military aircraft to Lebanon, along with other military hardware and support equipment as part of a proposed $462 million arms deal.
The proposed deal includes six A-29 Super Tucano planes, which are military aircraft specialized in light attacks, counterinsurgency, close air support and reconnaissance missions, according to a statement released Wednesday by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency.
The agency, which is part of the U.S. Department of Defense, said that Congress was notified of the potential deal Friday.
The other elements of the proposed arms package include: eight PT6A-68A Turboprop engines, eight ALE-47 Countermeasure Dispensing Systems, 2,000 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon Systems, eight AN/AAR-60(V)2Missle Launch Detection Systems and non-SAASM Embedded Global Positioning System/Initial Navigation Systems (EGIs).
Along with the military hardware, the deal would also cover “spare and repair parts, flight testing, maintenance support, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, ferry support, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor engineering and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support,” the statement explained.
The State Department believes the sale would serve “U.S. national, economic, and security interests by providingLebanon with airborne capabilities needed to maintain internal security, enforce United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1559 and 1701 and counter terrorist threats,” it added.
Although Lebanon operates very few military aircraft, the statement said the Lebanon’s military would not have any difficulty absorbing the new planes. It emphasized Lebanon’s urgent need for close air support to face the current security threats on its borders.
Congress was notified of the possible sale on June 5, it said.
Under U.S. law, the State Department must notify Congress at least 30 calendar days in advance before concluding any government-to-government military sale valued at $14 million or more, said David McKeeby, spokesperson for the State Department’s Bureau of Political-Military Affairs.
“In general, the Administration, after complying with the terms of applicable U.S. law, is then free to proceed with an arms sale proposal unless Congress passes legislation prohibiting or modifying the proposed sale,” McKeeby said.
“Once the Congressional notification process is completed, the United States and the Government of Lebanon may finalize the Foreign Military Sales agreement,” he added.
