Israel is poised to become the first foreign buyer of the V-22 Osprey tilt-rotor aircraft under a broader Middle East arms package announced by the Pentagon.
The $10 billion-dollar deal, which has yet to be finalized, would include the V-22s, KC-135 refueling aircraft, anti-radiation missiles and advanced radars for Israel’s existing fleet of fighter jets.
The arms package was announced ahead of Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel’s trip to the Middle East this week, his first there since taking office in February.
Under the deal, Saudi Arabia would receive advanced standoff missile for the fleet of F-15s it is buying under a separate $30 billion arms sale agreed to three years ago, a Pentagon official told reporters. The United Arab Emirates, which is moving forward with buying 25 F-16s, would also receive the advanced standoff weapons, the official said.
The official did not say how many V-22s would be sold to Israel because it was still subject to discussions, nor identify the specific weapons systems, citing the need to protect operational security. The official, who briefed reporters on the condition of anonymity, said the deal was arranged through “intensive defense shuttle diplomacy” with the three nations.
“Working with all three of these countries to fashion an important agreement like this is not easy,” the official said, but added that it shows the “kind of creativity and innovation that we need to address security challenges in the region.”
The arms deal was seen as sending a message to Iran over the Islamic Republic’s refusal to rein in its nuclear ambitions.
“It is clear that, as I said, Iran presents a threat in its nuclear program,” Hagel told reporters Sunday while flying to Israel. “And Israel will make the decisions that Israel must make to protect itself and defend itself.”
Israel was Hagel’s first stop in the Middle East with additional stops planned in Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and the UAE. Much of his discussions were to focus on Iran and the civil conflict in Syria.
The V-22s are built through a teaming arrangement between Boeing [BA] and Bell Helicopter, a division of Textron [TXT]. The Marine Corps is the main customer for the V-22s. The Air Force has also purchased a handful of the aircraft.
The Navy proposes spending $1.5 billion in fiscal 2014 for 18 V-22s for the Marines under the second year of a five-year multi-year contract, with plans to buy 78 through fiscal 2018.