Special to WorldTribune.com

WASHINGTON — After six years, the United States has responded to an Israeli request for rockets.

The administration of President Barack Obama has approved the implementation of an Israeli request for U.S.-origin tactical rockets.

On Sept. 24, the Defense Department awarded a $63 million contract to Nammo Talley for the production and supply of the M-72 Light Assault Weapon, known as LAW.

“Bids were solicited via the Internet, with one received,” the Pentagon said.

In a statement on Sept. 24, the Pentagon did not say what LAW models Nammo would supply to Israel. The statement did not specify how many rockets would be exported, but said the contract was expected to end in September 2018.

Funding and work location will be determined with each order,” the Pentagon said.

The contract marked the first order from Israel’s request of 28,000 LAW rockets in 2008. Under the request, approved in the last months of the administration of President George Bush, Israel was meant to receive the 66 mm rocket as well as 60,000 additional sub-caliber training rockets.

The M-72, which weighs 3.6 kilograms, was sought by the Israel Army for counter-insurgency operations. The M72A7 contains an enhanced blast effect said to be effective in urban warfare, including Israel’s latest war with the Hamas-ruled Gaza Strip.

It was not clear why the administration waited six years to implement the LAW project. But sources in Congress said Obama delayed or significantly reduced a range of Israeli military procurement requests approved by Bush, including the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and long-range airborne systems.

  M-72 Light Assault Weapon, Nammo, Obama finally approves Israel’s 2008 request for tactical rockets, Pentagon, Six years later