US offers military sales to Egypt, Israel,

The US Department of Defense has announced during the past week three possible sales of military equipment to Israel and Egypt, offering fighter jets to Ireal and an upgrade of equipment to Egypt.

The Department of Defense announced yesterday the possible sale of 60 F-16C/D Block 50/52 fighter jets made by the Lockheed Martin Corporation and other related equipment valued at $2.5 billion to Israel.

The Department of Defense announcement said, "The F-16 enhances Israel's ability to defend itself and supports U.S. regional objectives for Israel's national security and maintenance of Israel's qualitative edge."

The Department of Defense also announced yesterday the possible sale of 30 F-15I fighter jets along with related equipment, valued at $2.5 billion, to Israel. It named Boeing Aerospace as the primary contractor.

Both proposed sales come under an existing industrial cooperation agreement, and the Defense Department said the sales would work to enhance Israel's "present operational inventory and to enhance its air-to-air and air-to-ground self-defense capability."

On Friday, a possible upgrade of Egypt's 40 ALQ-131 Block I to Block II pods was announced to "upgrade the Egyptian Air Force's electronic countermeasure capability," at a cost of $76 million. Northrop-Grumman and Lockheed Martin were named as the primary contractors for the possible sale.

The ALQ-131 is an electronic countermeasures pod that helps aircraft jam radars.

The annoucement said, "Implementation of this proposed sale will require the assignment of five U.S. Government personnel for 30 days to provide pilot and maintenance training."

The Defense Department said that none of the proposed sales would "affect the basic military balance in the region."