| Reuters August 24, 2007 WASHINGTON, DC THE US Defense Department said Friday, Aug 24, it was tentatively planning to sell Singapore up to 84 precision-guided bombs for its F-15 fighter fleet as part of a military package deal valued at up to US$200 million. Singapore has requested up to 28 Guided Bomb Unit-10 and 56 GBU-12 precision-guided munitions along with 126,000 20mm practice round cartridges, crew training in the United States and related items, the department told Congress. "Singapore needs these munitions to support its F-15 aircraft," the Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a notice required by law for a potential arms sale. It said the bombs would give Singapore, a staunch supporter of the US military presence in the Asia-Pacific region, "a credible defense capability while avoiding the collateral damage associated with conventional gravity munitions." Gravity munitions are unguided bombs. The laser-guided GBU-10 and GBU-12 are produced by Lockheed Martin Corp and Raytheon Co. Singapore would be able to "develop mission-ready and experienced aircrew" for Boeing Co F-15s through the latest phase of longstanding pilot training in the United States, the notice said. The notice does not mean a deal has been concluded. Congress retains the power to reject a proposed sale but rarely does so. |
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