United States Arms Sales Belgium

The Pentagon informed Congress on Thursday that it has approved arms transactions with two European allies involving more than 800 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. Assuming there are no congressional objections, the Defense Department said it would sell 545 Sidewinders to Belgium for $49 million and 290 to the Netherlands for $27 million.

Fabrique Nationale, Belgium's arms manufacturer, said it has received a $154-million order from the U.S. Defense Department for 30,000 machine guns and 267,000 rifles. The announcement had been delayed until the U.S. General Accounting Office investigated a complaint by the Colt Firearms Group, which designed the basic model of the FN rifle and had tried to block the order.

Fabrique Nationale, Belgium's arms manufacturer, said it has received a $154-million order from the U.S. Defense Department for 30,000 machine guns and 267,000 rifles. The announcement had been delayed until the U.S. General Accounting Office investigated a complaint by the Colt Firearms Group, which designed the basic model of the FN rifle and had tried to block the order.

The Pentagon informed Congress on Thursday that it has approved arms transactions with two European allies involving more than 800 Sidewinder air-to-air missiles. Assuming there are no congressional objections, the Defense Department said it would sell 545 Sidewinders to Belgium for $49 million and 290 to the Netherlands for $27 million.