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30 December 2011 |
| http://www.spacewar.com/reports/Lockheed_wins_contract_for_UAE_anti-missile_system_999.html |
 Washington
(AFP) - The Pentagon awarded US defense giant Lockheed Martin Corp. with a $1.96
billion contract Friday to supply the United Arab Emirates with a missile
defense system.Under the contract, Lockheed will deliver two Terminal High Altitude Area Defense or Thaad systems that include radar, interceptors and launchers, according to a Pentagon statement. The project is part of President Barack Obama's plans to build up a regional defense in the Middle East to counter Iran's growing arsenal of ballistic missiles. Under the plan, land-based interceptors would be tied in with a detection network on US Navy Aegis-class warships. UAE is the first country to purchase the expensive Thaad system. The announcement came amid rising tensions with Iran and a day after the
United States confirmed the signing of a $30 billion arms deal to provide
another Gulf ally -- Saudi Arabia -- with 84 new fighter jets. |
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