8 P-3C for $970M?

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=topNews&storyID=6834081
WASHINGTON, Nov 16 (Reuters) – The Pentagon notified Congress on Tuesday about three proposed arms deals with Pakistan, a key ally in the U.S.-led war on terror, including the sale of eight P-3C Orion surveillance aircraft valued at up to $970 million.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, which handles foreign arms sales for the Pentagon, said it also planned to sell Pakistan 2,000 TOW-2A missiles and 14 TOW-2A Fly-to-Buy missiles in a deal valued at $82 million.

Pakistan had also requested the sale of six PHALANX rapid-fire 20-millimeter guns for Pakistan surface ships, and the upgrade of six additional gun systems, a contract worth up to $155 million, the agency said.

Lawmakers now have 30 days to block the proposed arms sales, but defense officials and congressional sources said that was considered extremely unlikely.

The Pentagon said the proposed arms agreements would help “improve the security of a friendly country that has been and continues to be an important force for economic progress in South Asia and the global war on terrorism.”

It said the P-3C aircraft, built by Lockheed Martin Corp. (LMT.N: Quote, Profile, Research) , would improve Pakistan’s ability to restrict the movement of militants along its southern border, in particular, and improve border security everywhere.

The Raytheon Co. (RTN.N: Quote, Profile, Research) TOW missiles had recently been employed in the tribal areas of Pakistan, giving the Pakistani government new tools in its fight to combat terrorism, DSCA said.

Raytheon, based in Waltham, Massachusetts, also produces the PHALANX gun systems, which DSCA said Pakistan would use to beef up the defenses of its surface ships against inbound aircraft, missiles, and fast-moving surface craft.

The United States dropped sanctions against Pakistan after the country backed the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan in the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, hijacking attacks.

This past March, Pakistan was named a major non-NATO U.S. ally, making it easier for it to acquire U.S. weapons.

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