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Wednesday, September 22, 2004

U.S. okays armored vehicles for IDF


The U.S. government has approved the supply of wheeled armored vehicles to Israel for deployment in the West Bank and Gaza.

A communique from the Pentagon to Congress, sent on September 7, explained that Israel needed the vehicles 'for use in urban areas.'

Israel had requested the purchase of 103 armored Dingo vehicles, along with spare parts and technical support from the manufacturer, in a deal that could amount to as much as $99 million, if all options materialize. The purchase, which has not yet been finalized, according to the Pentagon, will be financed with U.S. military aid.

The army has shown an interest in a wheeled armored vehicle, which can be more easily maneuvered than the tracked armored vehicles currently in use. The Dingo's manufacturers boast of its superior maneuverability in dense urban areas. The Dingo was developed in Germany, and is assembled in the United States under a license from the German manufacturer, making it possible to subsume it under U.S. aid."