US to sell howitzers to Pakistan

The sale of M109A5 howitzers would not affect the basic military balance in the region, the Pentagon's Defence Security Cooperation Agency said in a notice to Congress.

The big guns at issue are in the US Army's current inventory, said Jose Ibarra, an agency spokesman. The total value of the deal, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $56 million, the notice to Congress said.

Such notice is required by law. Congress has the power to block such a government-to-government arms sale but has never done so. No contractor would be involved in the deal.

Pakistan currently operates an earlier-generation self-propelled howitzer, the M109A2. It would use the newer model to re-equip existing units and retire older artillery pieces, the Pentagon said.