By Newsgram Staff Writer

Even after criticizing Pakistan's nuclear power, US government has gone forward in strengthening its military arsenal by selling it $952 million worth of attack helicopters, air-to-surface missiles.

The deal will include 15 AH-1Z Viper Attack Helicopters and 1000 AGM-114R Hellfire II Missiles, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said. The package also includes 32 T-700 GE 401C Engines (30 installed and 2 spares), 36 H-1 Technical Refresh Mission computers, 32 Helmet Mounted Display/Optimized Top Owl, 17 AN/AAR-47 Missile Warning Systems and system integration and testing.

"This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a country vital to US foreign policy and national security goals in South Asia," the announcement said.

"By acquiring this capability, Pakistan will enhance its ability to conduct operations in North Waziristan Agency (NWA), the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA), and other remote and mountainous areas in all-weather, day-and-night environments," DSCA said.

The principal contractors will be The Boeing Company in Huntsville, Alabama; Lockheed Martin in Bethesda, Maryland; Bell Helicopter, Textron in Fort Worth, Texas and General Electric in Lynn, Massachusetts.