US approves military equipment sales to Pak

The Bush administration has authorised the sale of Harpoon anti-ship missiles and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles to Pakistan.The missiles wi...

The Bush administration has authorised the sale of Harpoon anti-ship missiles and Sidewinder air-to-air missiles to Pakistan.

The missiles will upgrade stockpiles of older versions of each missile, the US Defence Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement issued today.

Pakistan is seeking 40 AGM-84L air-launched Harpoons and 20 RGM-84L surface-launched versions of the missile in a deal worth up to $180 million, the military said.

The Pakistani Navy uses an older version of the missile and the US statement said the newer missiles are less likely to hit noncombatant targets in a naval engagement. The prime contractors on the deal are the Boeing Company’s St. Louis, Missouri operation and Delex Systems of Vienna, Virginia.

In addition, Pakistan wants to buy up to 300 AIM-9M Sidewinder missiles, which fighter aircraft use against other planes.

The deal is worth up to $46 million and the prime contractor is Raytheon Systems in Tucson, Arizona. The deal will allow Pakistan to fly armed surveillance aircraft along its western border, the military said. Afghanistan and Iran are west of Pakistan.

‘‘The Pakistani Air Force currently lacks this self-defence capability. These missiles are needed to allow Pakistan to defend its borders, participate in coalition operations and exercises and operate a modern Air Force,’’ the military statement said. —PTI

JF-17s from China

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Pakistan said on Monday that it would produce four planes of the JF-17 fighter aircraft, capable of carrying short range missiles, being manufactured in collaboration with China. The process will begin next year and the serial production will start from 2007, chairman of Pakistan Aeronautical Complex, Air Marshal Aurangzeb and chief project director of JF-17 Air Vice Marshal Shahid Latif announced. —PTI