Lebanese Army is replenishing its stock of TOW and Hellfire Missiles

Within two weeks, three orders were placed to procure TOW II and Hellfire II missiles as part of larger contracts to supply other countries. The Lebanese army already effectively use these two missiles for some years now, and were used recently in the Fajr al-Jurud operation against ISIS.

1. September 18/28 2017: Two orders for an unspecified number of TOW II missiles with completion date in 2018 and 2020 respectively.
   Contract 1
   

   Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a $292,436,322 modification (PZ0055) to foreign military sales (Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Thailand, Bahrain, and Morocco) contract W31P4Q-12-C-0265 for Tube-launched Optically-tracked Wireless-guided missiles. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona; and Farmington, New Mexico, with an estimated completion date of Dec. 31, 2018. Fiscal 2010 foreign military sales funds in the amount of $292,436,322 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

   Contract 2
   

   Raytheon Missile Systems, Tucson, Arizona, has been awarded a $300,088,180 fixed-price-incentive domestic and foreign military sales (Lebanon, Jordon and Morocco) contract for Tube-launched Optically-tracked Wireless-guided missiles for the Army, Marine Corps and foreign military sales customers. Bids were solicited via the Internet with one received. Work will be performed in Tucson, Arizona; and Farmington, New Mexico, with an estimated completion date of July 31, 2020. Fiscal 2010, 2015, 2016 and 2017 other procurement (Army); foreign military sales; and American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds in the combined amount of $300,088,180 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S. Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity (W31P4Q-17-C-0194).

    
2. September 28, 2017: Order for an unspecified number of Hellfire II missiles with expected completion in 2020.
   

   Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control, Orlando, Florida, has been awarded a $103,287,296 modification (P00060) to foreign military sales (Croatia, Lebanon, Jordan, and the United Arab Emirates) contract W31P4Q-15-C-0151 for Hellfire II missile production. Work will be performed in Orlando, Florida, with an estimated completion date of Sept. 30, 2020. Fiscal 2015, 2016 and 2017 other procurement (Army) and other funds in the combined amount of $103,287,296 were obligated at the time of the award. U.S Army Contracting Command, Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, is the contracting activity.

Contracts information quoted from https://www.defense.gov/

It is worth noting that these, and previously ordered/delivered TOW missiles are wirelessly guided to the contrary of what some military experts still describe the TWO missile as "wire-guided". Besides, while we do not know how many Hellfire missiles the LAF has used so far since the first delivery, but its arsenal of Hellfire missile seems to have been growing over the past few years thanks to multiple deliveries/contracts.

This article first appeared on LAF Digest (Unofficial)

Lebanese Army receives M712 Copperhead and Hellfire Missiles

The US Embassy in Beirut announced that the Lebanese Army received a new shipment of arms containing 50 AGM-114 Hellfire missiles, and 560 artillery round, which among them, for the first time, laser-guided artillery projectiles.

These laser-guided projectiles can't be anything except the M712 Copperhead, a cannon-launched, fin-stabilized, terminally laser guided projectiles intended for high value targets. These projectiles are set to take the LAF's capability to the next level in this area in combination with the advancements in the other areas including air surveillance.
 
According to the LAF, these come as part of the "United States aid Program dedicated to the Lebanese Army and part of the urgent Saudi military grant". (Ref)

This article first appeared on LAF Digest (Unofficial)

Lebanon set to receive 1000 AGM-114 Hellfire II Missiles

A major AGM-114 Hellfire II Missiles delivery is in the process for Lebanon. DSCA has released today a major arm sale news release announcing a "possible" sale of 1000 AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles in addition to repair, spares, support, training and technical documentation at a value of $146 mission US Dollars

When DSCA announces a possible major arm sales, it is usually a done deal.
We are wondering however, if the big quantity can hint a possible platform deliveries in the near-term; in both cases it is a magnificent news for Lebanon.

WASHINGTON, Jun 4, 2015 - The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to Lebanon for AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles and associated equipment, parts and logistical support for an estimated cost of $146 million. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale today.

The Government of Lebanon has requested possible sale of 1,000 AGM-114 Hellfire II missiles, containers, repair and return, spare and repair parts, support equipment, publications and technical documentation, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. Government and contractor logistics and technical support services, and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated cost is $146 million.
http://www.dsca.mil/major-arms-sales/lebanon-agm-114-hellfire-ii-missiles

Even more Hellfire II missiles for the LAF are expected in 2015

An unspecified number of Hellfire missiles are expected in the coming period. On December 17, 2014, The US DoD announced a modification for an existing contract with Hellfire Systems LLC for additional number of missiles to a number of countries, amongst Lebanon.

Hellfire Systems LLC, Orlando, Florida, was awarded a $150,002,546 modification (P00133) to Foreign Military Sales contract W31P4Q-11-C-0242 (Australia, Iraq, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Indonesia, Egypt, Lebanon) to manufacture and deliver 2,109 Hellfire II missile models, air-to-ground missiles models AGM-114R, AGM-114R-3, AGM-114P4-A, training guided missile TGM M36E7, and air-training-missile ATM-114Q-6. (ref)

It is not clear which models will be delivered though; yet for sure it won't be the AGM-114P4-A as the Lebanese Air Force doesn't operate platforms which this model is designed for.

This is another important step in the face of the increasing threats from ISIL and JAN, and it comes in time of increasing talks about supplying the LAF with OH-58D Kiowa and additional Cessna AC-208B.

Lebanese Army receives 100 Hellfire missiles

The USA has expedited arms and ammunition shipments to the LAF in the wake of August 2014 Battle of Ersal with ISIS and Nusra Front (More Info).

By the end of that month, the USA had already delivered 480 AT-4 missiles, 1500 M16-A4, and 60 mortars (Ref). The USA promised to deliver more arms and ammunition in the following weeks without the need to issue press statements upon each delivery.

Among these following deliveries, the USA delivered 100 Hellfire missiles, as confirmed by Aram Nerguizian (Ref). Aram also detailed later that the shipment included the Thermobaric variant (AGM-114N) of the missile (Ref).

The LAF has successfully used the missile since the eruption of the battle using the Cessna AC-208B.