JERUSALEM, Oct. 14 (Xinhua) -- Israel's Defense Ministry said in a statement Wednesday that it had signed an agreement with the Pentagon to buy 12 advanced Apache attack helicopters made by U.S. aerospace company Boeing.
The statement did not disclose the deal amount, but Israeli media reports put the cost at around 1 billion U.S. dollars.
The helicopters will be the AH-64E Apache Guardian, also known as the Echo model, the latest version of the Apache attack helicopter. Deliveries are expected to begin early in the next decade.
The AH-64E features advanced sensors, avionics and digital communications for real-time information sharing. It can engage multiple targets using precision-guided missiles, rockets and a 30mm cannon.
The deal was signed after the Israeli government approved a special budget allocation earlier in the day to help finance the purchase, according to the statement. ■
