U.S. to Sell High-Tech Fighters to Israel
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WASHINGTON — The Clinton Administration intends to sell Israel up to 25 new F-15I fighter-bombers, the first transfer to another country of such a sophisticated plane, the Pentagon announced Monday.
Congress has the authority to stop the $2.4-billion sale, but backers of the arrangement say it will not be blocked. The aircraft will be built by McDonnell Douglas Corp., which is based in St. Louis.
Israel has 51 older-model F-15s, but the newest plane will be capable of long-range attack missions and will allow Israel to reach such distant potential adversaries as Iran, Iraq and Libya.
The United States has sold F-15s to Saudi Arabia, but they are models that lack the sophisticated radar and other systems that will be included in the Israeli package.
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