The Rafael (Israel Armaments Development Authority) purchase takes a bite out of procurement from competing US manufacturers. The US Congress is expected to approve the agreement within a few days.
The US Senate Appropriations Committee and the US House of Representatives
Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on National Security this week approved a request, put forth by the US Air Force and Congress, to procure $39 million in Popye missiles manufactured by Rafael (Israel Armaments Development Authority) for 1998. This information was obtained by "Globes" from senior military sources.
Final approval is expected within a few days from the Joint Appropriations Committee.
Sources at Rafael say the Popeye purchase comes at the expense of procurement from competing US missile manufacturers Rockwell-Boeing and Mcdonnel-Douglas.
Rafael is also currently negotiating to sell Popeye missiles to a number of other countries, including countries in the Far East.
Rafael general manager Yitzhak Gat told "Globes" today that since the US began arming itself with Popeye missiles in 1989, $220 million of the missiles have been supplied, at an annual cost of $35-40 million.