Israel Now Has 100+ F-16s On Order From U.S.

[Yoshie Furuhashi]

>From: "MER" <MERL at MiddleEast.Org>
>Subject: Israel Now Has 100+ F-16s On Order From U.S.
>Date: Fri, 7 Sep 2001 14:32:08 -0400
<snip>
>
>ISRAEL BUYS 52 MORE U.S. JET-FIGHTERS
>
>The F-16I makes up the backbone of Israel's air force Israel has 
>signed a contract to receive 52 F-16I fighter-bombers from the US 
>firm Lockheed Martin having bought 50 of the aircraft last year.
>
>The deal comes as an amendment to the original January 2000 deal, 
>which gave Israel the option to purchase more of the planes.
>
>Lockheed Martin will deliver the same two-seat F-16I configuration 
>as in the previous order, with deliveries expected to start in 2006 
>and end in 2009.
>
>The funding for the $2 billion contract will come from the US 
>military aid budget, which awards that amount to Israel on an annual 
>basis.
>
>Correspondents say the F-16I is considered one of the most advanced 
>fighter-bombers in the world and has been equipped with advanced 
>fuel tanks that extend its range.
>
>With an aerial arsenal already including an estimated 250 F-16s, 
>Israel has the largest fleet of of the aircraft outside of the US. 
>Egypt has the second-largest foreign F-16 fleet.
>
>"Israel's sixth acquisition of F-16s demonstrates their continued 
>confidence in the F-16I to satisfy their future defence needs," 
>Lockheed Martin president Dain Hancock said.
>
>The first planes from the earlier order are due to be delivered in 2003.
>
>The agreement covers aircraft, logistics support, training, and 
>other services.
>
>The new planes will include a number of systems produced by local 
>Israeli companies, Lockheed Martin said.  [BBC - 7 September 01]
>
>
>
>
>CORPS BUILDS TRAINING BASES IN ISRAEL
>By Torrie McAllister
>
>[U.S. Army, Europe District - 6 September 2001] :   What do Israel's 
>elite paratroops look for when building a new military base? Like 
>Americans, they put quality training and quality of life at the top 
>of their list.
>
>Europe District and the Israeli Ministry of Defense laid the 
>cornerstone for a new U.S.-financed basic training base in the 
>northern Negev Desert in Israel on May 15. Israeli defense officials 
>said the location in the Judean hills is particularly suitable for 
>paratrooper infantry training and state-of-the art support 
>facilities for the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF).
>
>Recruits can look forward to air conditioning and other modern 
>amenities in new barracks, dining halls, and recreation facilities. 
>Their families are happy because it will be safer to visit their 
>loved ones on weekends once their training bases are relocated from 
>the West Bank into Israel.
>
>The $45 million Southern Infantry Training Base is being funded by 
>the U.S. to support the Wye River Memorandum that Israeli and 
>Palestinian leaders signed in 1998 during summit talks hosted by 
>former President Bill Clinton. The U.S. is funding base construction 
>and infrastructure costs so the IDF can move out of the West Bank to 
>free-up land for possible transfer to the Palestinians.
>
>The IDF and the 35th Infantry Training Brigade celebrated the start 
>of construction with a traditional Israeli stone-laying ceremony, 
>where a scroll is buried to commemorate the new beginning.
>
>"What we're doing here lays the cornerstone for a secure Israel, at 
>peace with her neighbors," said U.S. ambassador Martin Indyke, who 
>participated in the Wye River negotiations and came to sign and help 
>bury the scroll. "It's highly symbolic of the United States' 
>iron-clad commitment to Israeli security, and serves as a foundation 
>for reaching a comprehensive peace.
>
>"This is the first of many construction projects brought about by 
>Wye River which will assist with the redeployment of Israeli troops 
>in the West Bank," Indyke added. "It's an important step toward 
>building a spirit of trust with your Palestinian neighbors."
>
>During the next four years the Corps will manage construction of an 
>estimated $280 million in military facilities for Israel. The Corps 
>is soliciting, awarding, and managing the construction contracts.
>
>Near-term construction consists of three new military bases:
>
>The Southern Infantry Training Base, now underway, which was awarded 
>to the  Israeli joint venture firm Solel-Boneh and Minrav Holdings 
>Ltd.
>
>The Northern Infantry Training Base, which is scheduled for 
>construction next  fall. Proposals are being solicited.
>
>The Nachshonim Storage Base, a $138 million storage and maintenance 
>facility,  which will break ground in August. The contract was 
>awarded in June to the U.S./Israel Joint Venture firm of ABB SUSA, 
>A. Arenson, and Baran Group.
>
>Amos Yaron, Israeli Director General of the Minister of Defense, 
>told young soldiers who gathered to see the new site, "It gives me 
>particular personal pleasure to look back on my days in the 35th 
>Infantry and see how well this fits the new needs of this old 
>brigade as we begin a new century."
>
>"Thank you for continuing to stand by us in these difficult days," 
>Yaron told Indyke. "We're working with the U.S. Army Corps of 
>Engineers to build 40,000 square meters of built-up areas to the 
>highest tactical and quality of life standards, standards befitting 
>the responsibilities of such an elite unit. This is a moment in 
>which we celebrate U.S. and Israeli cooperation. That spirit of 
>cooperation is reflected in the partnership of our design and 
>construction engineers."
>
>Wye River implementation offers the Corps another opportunity to 
>assist Israel. The first was more than 20 years ago, after the Camp 
>David Accords were signed and Israel gave up airbases in the Sinai 
>to make peace with Egypt. From spring 1979 to summer 1982 the Corps 
>helped build the Ovda and Ramon Air bases, a $1.6 billion initiative 
>that helped defend Israel and keep the peace into a new millennium.
>
>"The Corps of Engineers is proud to be your partner," said Brig. 
>Gen. Steven Rhoades, North Atlantic Division commander. "A superb 
>team effort brought us this far. Our 35,000 soldiers and civilians 
>from across the U.S. and Europe offer our hopes and prayers that the 
>Corps efforts here will help secure a lasting peace in the Middle 
>East, and a better world for our children."
>
>
>
>
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