Israel to buy MRE's from USA

[DangerousDave]

Of course, they will be specialized meals, to preclude pork products. www.allbusiness.com/middle-east/israel/714726-1.html Is this a joke?

[C-rats]

Because of the ridiculously high price of civilian market 5.56mm Ball ammunition here in the US, I propose we trade our MREs for their IMI manufactured ammo

[kman]

From the article:

Battle Rations to be Imported from U.S.
Publication: Israel Faxx
Date: Friday, May 12 2000
Company: International Dehydrated Foods Inc.

By IsraelWire

The IDF is making further changes in battle rations. Soon part of the standard battle rations familiar to all IDF combat soldiers will be replaced by American-produced rations. The IDF is examining the possibility of including American-made battle rations as part of the military aid agreements between Israel and the U.S. The American battle rations are the kosher rations produced especially for Jewish soldiers.

The current battle rations are based on foods to be eaten cold, and include portions for four soldiers. The new rations consist of full meals in individual portions, and include more satisfying selections, such as roast beef with rice and meatballs with pasta. According to the IDF criterion, the battle rations must have a shelf life of three years. The Israeli battle rations are based entirely on canned foods, while the American rations are packaged in aluminum packs, which are lighter in weight and longer lasting. The IDF will begin to import American canned rations also.

The new rations are not intended for daily use, only for emergency situations. "We aspire never to use the emergency rations," stated Lt. Col. Miriam Amiel, in charge of food provisions for the Maintenance Corps. She said that most of the current use of battle rations is superfluous, and occurs because it is a convenience for the officers. The new meals will include hot and fresh foods provided by IDF bases.

These meals will also include the field rations already familiar to every combat soldier: tuna, canned corn, canned meat, peanuts, jelly, chocolate, and canned fruit.

This item looks like a press release from a company that's hoping to get the business. But when they say "The IDF is examining the possibility", that doesn't sound like it's final.

In fact, from the article, it sounds like they were thinking of including the US Kosher MREs (which are really the "My Own Meals" with a separate accessory pack. But I didn't think those rations were rated for three years like they mentioned in the article.

[donaldjcheek]

According to what I've researched, Israel originally intended to purchase combat rations in the US with US-supplied military aid funds.

Look at the date of the article. Since this was announced, US military aid funds are not as freely available and are restricted to specific equipment.

My guess is that the Israelis decided that US-style rations were too expensive to purchase on their own. As of summer 2007, they are still issuing the Manot Krav 4-man ration. As currently configured, the Manot Krav is packed in a corrugated cardboard box measuring 170 x 300 x 140 mm & weighing 3.17 kg. Inside are:
1 x 310 g can Loof (Kosher "SPAM")
4 x 170 g cans tuna
1 x 210 g can sardines
1 x 190 can chocolate-halvaspread
1 x 100 g can hummus
1 x 320 g pickled cucumbers or 540 g can olives
1 x 550 g can corn
8 x tea bags
1 x bag coffee
2 x bag sugar
2 x pkt mustard
2 x pkt ketchup
4 x plastic knives
8 x plastic forks
1 x plastic bag
1 x can opener

Hope this helps

[kman]

It's interesting that US-supplied military aid funds can't be used to buy rations. I guess they'd rather the money be spent on armaments?

[donaldjcheek]

The Israelis have a different philosophy regarding field rations. Battle rations are only issued when the tactical situation doesn't allow the delivery of hot food. Really, they're more a convenience for officers than a tactical necessity. Please note, there are no individual rations on general issue (recon troops is another story).

Israel is such a small country that practically any outpost is only 30 minutes or so from a pizza delivery. There's a whole network (you can also access it in the US) where you can order a pizza & have it delivered to soldiers on outpost or security checkpoint duty. Sort of like "Any Soldier Mail," but with food instead of letters.

Every Manot Krav pack is issued with a loaf of fresh bread, and often fresh fruit as well.

[MCIera]

That's a real good point. It also brings to mind a question as to why a city/state like Singapore might need to have field rations in a country where good food is available everywhere (cheap) in a form that would appeal to any ethnic pursuasion. ... probably because places like McDonald's, Pizza Hut, Tony Roma's, and the hawker centers do not deliver

The Israelis have a different philosophy regarding field rations. Battle rations are only issued when the tactical situation doesn't allow the delivery of hot food. Really, they're more a convenience for officers than a tactical necessity. Please note, there are no individual rations on general issue (recon troops is another story).

Israel is such a small country that practically any outpost is only 30 minutes or so from a pizza delivery. There's a whole network (you can also access it in the US) where you can order a pizza & have it delivered to soldiers on outpost or security checkpoint duty. Sort of like "Any Soldier Mail," but with food instead of letters.

Every Manot Krav pack is issued with a loaf of fresh bread, and often fresh fruit as well.

[dirtbag]

It would seem that Singapore has a first class military, unlike most in the area...
I would imagine they do not wish a repeat of the Japanese invasion of the 40's.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Singapore_Army
You can't feed a large outfit on local chow, in the bush .

[DangerousDave]

Maybe Israel needs the money for their F-16I project. Seemed to work this past Summer in Syria. What? What happened? I did'nt see anything. I heard Israel bombed the crap out of some construction site, deep in the woods, somewhere in Syria, but thats just speculation. Hmmm?