Breaking news
Lebanese Army Receives U.S. BGM-71 TOW II Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) 30206151.
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Defence & Security News - Lebanon
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| Lebanese Army Receives U.S. TOW II Anti-Tank Guided Missiles (ATGM) | |||
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A shipment of US weapons pledged to the Lebanese army arrived Monday, June 1st, at Beirut's airport, as Lebanon continues to battle jihadists along its borders. A statement released by the army said that the shipment included an undisclosed number of BGM-71 TOW II (Tube-launched, Optically tracked, Wire-guided) anti-armor missiles, along with their respective launching pads.
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 This U.S. shipment to Lebanon includes TOW II anti-tank missiles (Photo: Lebanese Army) |
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According to some Lebanese newspaper, delivered version of those missiles is BGM-71C but Lebanese Army' statement mentions TOW II missile. So delivered missile must be at least BGM-71D version. First produced in 1970, the TOW is one of the most widely used anti-tank guided missiles. The BGM-71D TOW 2 was delivered in the middle 1980s incorporating improved propellant, improved operation in obscurants presence and a wider warhead over the BGM-71C model. The U.S. has donated over $1 billion in aid to the Army over the last decade. The military is assessing the possibility of liberating the outskirts of the northeastern town of Arsal from jihadi militants, holed up there since spring 2014. On February 9, a shipment valued at over $25 million including HUMVEEs light utility vehicles, 70 M198 155 mm howitzers and almost 26 million rounds of ammunition and artillery of various shapes and sizes, including heavy artillery was delivered to Lebanon. France is also an important supplier of weapons for Lebanon. On April 20, France delivers 48 Milan anti-tank missiles (ATGM) to Lebanese army as part of the Saudi Arabia $3 billion contract to help Lebanese armed forces in the fighting against Islamist militants. The agreement was signed on November 4 during a ceremony in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, in the presence of French, Lebanese and Saudi officials. The deal will involve about 20 French companies and cover a mix of land, sea and air equipment, including armored vehicles, heavy artillery, anti-tank missiles, mortars and assault weapons. |
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