Arms Sales

@ The Netherlands has issued a $150 million contract to buy Gill anti-tank missiles from Israel. These will replace the US-built M47 Dragon missiles now in us; Gill defeated the US Javelin for the contract. The deal covers 2400 missiles, plus launchers. Deliveries are to start in Jan 2003; the first units to get the Gills will be Marines and rapid deployment units. 

@ Romania is negotiating to buy two of the five British Type-22 Batch 2 frigates recently taken out of service. The ships are in good shape with half of their service lives available. Romania wants the ships to show it is willing to re-arm with weapons that meet NATO standards. 

@ Australia has selected the Eurocopter Tiger over the American AH-1 and AH-64 attack helicopters to satisfy Project Air 87. The Australians want combat helicopters to provide support for intervention units and to back up the new security focus on the northern coast. 

@ The Polish Navy has arranged to buy Swedish RBS-15-Mk3 anti-ship missiles for use on its Type-660 Orkan corvettes. These will replace the Russian-built missiles originally installed on the old corvettes, which are being upgraded under a contract managed by Thales of the Netherlands.--Stephen V Cole