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Lockheed Martin Corp, the world's largest defence company, said a $7 billion (Dh25.7 billion) agreement to sell an advanced missile defence system to the United Arab Emirates may be reached within 18 months.
"The US government is fully behind selling THAAD to the UAE," said Dennis Cavin, vice president for international air and missile defence strategic initiatives, in an interview in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Delivery would begin after 2012.
The Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence weapon (THAAD) system is capable of shooting down medium-and long-range ballistic missiles. The US Defence Department announced the proposed sale on September 10, saying it will "improve the security of a friendly country."
Middle Eastern states are seeking weapons systems such as missile defence technology because of "an increased awareness of risks and security requirements," said Jim Jamerson, Lockheed Martin president for the Middle East and Africa. Better relations between the US and Iran won't lessen the need for missile defence, added Jamerson, who was attending a military technology conference in the country.
The order would be the first foreign sale of the THAAD system. Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed Martin said in December it would sell Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles to the UAE for use in the Patriot air defence system. The order placed by the US Army and the UAE includes 172 of the PAC-3 missiles and 42 launcher modification kits. Lockheed Martin and partner Raytheon Co, along with the US government, are in talks to sell the missiles to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, Cavin said. "They are also in talks with Qatar, which is seeking to develop missile defence capability," Cavin said.
"The US government is fully behind selling THAAD to the UAE," said Dennis Cavin, vice president for international air and missile defence strategic initiatives, in an interview in Abu Dhabi yesterday. Delivery would begin after 2012.
The Terminal High-Altitude Area Defence weapon (THAAD) system is capable of shooting down medium-and long-range ballistic missiles. The US Defence Department announced the proposed sale on September 10, saying it will "improve the security of a friendly country."
Middle Eastern states are seeking weapons systems such as missile defence technology because of "an increased awareness of risks and security requirements," said Jim Jamerson, Lockheed Martin president for the Middle East and Africa. Better relations between the US and Iran won't lessen the need for missile defence, added Jamerson, who was attending a military technology conference in the country.
The order would be the first foreign sale of the THAAD system. Bethesda, Maryland-based Lockheed Martin said in December it would sell Patriot Advanced Capability-3 missiles to the UAE for use in the Patriot air defence system. The order placed by the US Army and the UAE includes 172 of the PAC-3 missiles and 42 launcher modification kits. Lockheed Martin and partner Raytheon Co, along with the US government, are in talks to sell the missiles to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, Cavin said. "They are also in talks with Qatar, which is seeking to develop missile defence capability," Cavin said.
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