U.S. Embassy: Washington will Provide Lebanon with 12 Unmanned Aircrafts
The United States will provide the Lebanese army with 12 Raven unmanned aircrafts, the U.S. embassy in Beirut announced Tuesday.
A statement released by the embassy said the shipment will arrive in Lebanon in the coming months.
It said the provision of this aircraft was discussed during recent visits to the United States by Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) Commander Gen. Jean Qahwaji and Defense Minister Elias Murr.
The statement said LAF Air Force personnel are currently receiving training on the "Raven" unmanned aerial vehicle in the United States.
It said the Raven has an advanced, day and night electronic sensor providing immediate intelligence information and is an integral component of the LAF”s "Sensor to Shooter" system that incorporates the armed "Caravan" aircraft and other LAF ground, air, and naval resources.
The "Raven" performs remote reconnaissance and surveillance, identifies targets, provides protection and security, and, reports on military operations in urban areas and the results of battles.
The U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Special Operations Command, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) are using the Raven in combat operations throughout the U.S. Central Command Area of Operations, the statement added.
It said the training course, funded by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), is one part of the comprehensive, robust U.S. military assistance program to Lebanon.
U.S. military assistance to Lebanon, which totals more than $410 million since 2006, includes aircraft, tanks, artillery, small boats, infantry weapons, ammunition, Humvees, cargo trucks, training, and parts for all equipment, including the helicopters.
Assistance focuses on needs the LAF leadership identifies, the embassy said.