China Bid To Buy Us Missile Secretly

China has covertly tried to buy one of the United States Army's most effective weapons, the Hellfire anti-tank guided missile, from Egypt, a media report said today.

Chinese agents recently approachthe government of Egypt and offered to buy one of the 900 Hellfires purchased by Cairo in recent years from the United States, intelligence officials, on condition of anonymity told The Washington Times.

Obtaining Hellfires, the newspaper said, would augment a Chinese Army increasingly viewed as a potential US enemy."

The United State has an agreement with Egypt that it will not re-sell the missiles or give it to any third party.

 

China is believed to want the missile for reverse-engineering or duplication by the domestic industry.

China's defence industries are skilled in acquiring weapons systems, taking them apart and building their own versions. The weapons are then provided to the People's Liberation Army and sold abroad to Beijing's many customers.

The Hellfire is a laser-guided missile carried by the US Army's ah-64 a pache attack helicopters and oh-58 Kiowa Scout helicopters.

The marines also use Hellfire on their ah-1 Super Cobra helicopters.

The missile is guided to its target by a laser designator operated by a ground spotter, weapons officer in another aircraft or from the firing helicopter. The laser guidance makes it extremely accurate against the most heavily armoured tanks and vehicles.