The Pentagon said Tuesday it planned to sell 50 US-made anti-aircraft missiles to Jordan in a deal valued at 39 million US dollars in spite of reported objections from Israel.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said it notified Congress on Friday about the proposed sale, which includes 50 AIM-120C Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles built by Waltham, Massachusetts-based Raytheon Co., 51 LAU-129 launchers and associated equipment.

The agency said the proposed sale will enhance the foreign policy and national security objectives of the United States by improving the security of "a key regional partner."

Senior Israeli officials, including Defense Minister Shaul Mofaz, were reportedly to have urged the White House and the Pentagon to suspend the AMRAAM sale to Jordan.

However, the White House has deemed the missile sale an important boost to King Abdullah and his efforts to help the United States prior and during the war in Iraq in 2003, media reports have said.

So far, Israel has been the only country in the Middle East to have received the AMRAAMS, suitable for both the F-16 and F-15.