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U.S. to sell General Dynamics tanks to Australia
WASHINGTON, May 24 (Reuters) - The Pentagon on Monday said it planned to sell 59 General Dynamics Corp. (nyse: GD - news - people) M1A1 Abrams Integrated Management tanks and related equipment to Australia in a deal valued at up to $475 million.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said it notified Congress about the deal on Friday, giving lawmakers 30 days in which to block the deal -- a move considered highly unlikely.
Under the deal, Australia would buy 59 tanks, 7 M88A1 medium recovery vehicles, 80 AN/VRC-92F dual long-range Single Channel Ground and Air Radio Systems, 146 night vision goggles, 73 M2 machine guns, and other equipment.
DSCA said the proposed sale would aid U.S. national security by helping improve Australia's security and enhancing its ability to operate jointly with U.S. Army and Marine Corps units for the next 25 years.
The M1A1/2 Abrams main battle tank is manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems, a unit of the Falls Church, Virginia-based company.
Other countries that operate the M1A1 Abrams tanks are Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Copyright 2004, Reuters News Service
WASHINGTON, May 24 (Reuters) - The Pentagon on Monday said it planned to sell 59 General Dynamics Corp. (nyse: GD - news - people) M1A1 Abrams Integrated Management tanks and related equipment to Australia in a deal valued at up to $475 million.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said it notified Congress about the deal on Friday, giving lawmakers 30 days in which to block the deal -- a move considered highly unlikely.
Under the deal, Australia would buy 59 tanks, 7 M88A1 medium recovery vehicles, 80 AN/VRC-92F dual long-range Single Channel Ground and Air Radio Systems, 146 night vision goggles, 73 M2 machine guns, and other equipment.
DSCA said the proposed sale would aid U.S. national security by helping improve Australia's security and enhancing its ability to operate jointly with U.S. Army and Marine Corps units for the next 25 years.
The M1A1/2 Abrams main battle tank is manufactured by General Dynamics Land Systems, a unit of the Falls Church, Virginia-based company.
Other countries that operate the M1A1 Abrams tanks are Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.
Copyright 2004, Reuters News Service