Posted on 02/16/2005 1:03:42 AM PST by sukhoi-30mki
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to buy missiles from Lockheed
By Stanley Carvalho, Staff Reporter
Abu Dhabi: Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are likely to upgrade their missile system to the battle-proven PAC-3 missile from Lockheed Martin, company officials said yesterday.
"Saudi Arabia and Kuwait are very interested in the PAC-3 missiles. We have briefed both countries," said Dennis Cavin, vice-president of International Air and Missile Defence Strategic Initiative for, Lockheed Martin.
"Both countries are looking at upgrading their Patriot missiles but no decisions have been made," he said.
The UAE is also seriously evaluating different missile systems including the Lockheed Martin missiles. "We have additional information to make to the UAE to enable them to make an informed decision. A briefing is due later this year," he said.
Meanwhile, another Lockheed official said the company is in serious discussions with two countries in the Middle East for sale of Hellfire missiles. "We have delivered these missiles to 14 countries worldwide including some in the Middle East," he said.
The names of the Middle East countries were not disclosed but Kuwait has said it wants to integrate the Hellfire missile with its light armoured vehicles (LAVs), said Doug Terrell, Manager of International Business Development for Lockheed Martin.
"The UAE had interest in this missile but subsequently lost interest."
Saudi Arabia, Kuwait and Israel operate Patriot missiles.
Cavin said the PAC-3 missiles, combat proven in Operation Iraq Freedom, can be a significant upgrade to the Patriot system. The company has received a $532 million (Dh1.96 billion) contract for 156 PAC-3 missiles for the US Army, Netherlands and Japan.
"The PAC-3 missile is currently the world's only fielded hit-to-kill, pure kinetic energy air defence missile and has the capability of defeating cruise missiles," he said.
It's pretty ironic that high-end systems like the PAC-3 are being sold to folks like the Saudis & Kuwaitis whose links with Slammic groups are visible to most folks who know how such groups are funded.& It looks like this is just the begining of more deals.Kuwait reportedly wants more F/A-18 E/Fs & the UAE is interested in advanced variants of the E-2 Hawkeye,not to mention numerous upgrades to existing systems like their Apaches & Abrams tanks.The Iraqis ain't around,so they can't be the threat & Iran's conventional military forces are close to obsolete when compared with the toys these folks have.So All I have to Israel in the longterm is,Watch out!!!!
The bestpart is that a democracy like India is only offered the PAC-2,while these folks are given the next generation.
The Kuwaiti sheikhs that is-quiet a few Kuwaiti trusts & charities have been engaged in not so benevolent work in various conflict zones of the world like Chechnya.& no one knows how long a ruler can get to keep his head in the Middle East!!
I wont be surprised if Indian pilots actually come up against a few Saudi F-18s in an Indo-Pak conflict. Although we can butcher them in air but I still think we should be prepared for that.
Saudi F-15s(only Kuwait operates the F/A-18 in that part of the world)-you are right on that part.For one,a large number of Pakistanis serve in the Saudi military,esp in the navy & airforce.Arab/muslim countries have also helped out Pakistan in the past Indo-Pak conflicts such as Jordan leasing Starfighters in 71.The worst part is Saudi Arabia's F-15S & the UAE's F-16 block 60s can easily reach Indian shores with fuel tanks.I wouldn't be too sure about easy air superiority for India.For one,Kuwait & the UAE(& probably Saudi Arabia) all operate the AMRAAM missile & also have AWACS,not to mention competent pilots trained in the US or UK.But India's ties with Israel particularly intelligence cooperation & armsdeals will help in offsetting that to an extent & the arabs are certainly not happy about it.
Well we sold A1M1s to Egypt and Jordan. Thank God those two don't have a history of attacking Israel. /sarcasm. Syria's T-72s are old and out dated and they're not a threat, then there's Egypt now. Saudi Arabia has over 120 medium ballistic missiles with gas warheads stationed in the western desert (gee, wonder which way they'll fly) and we say nothing to the slammies there.
I don't think Jordan has Abrams tanks-they operate Challenger-1s(??).Having been to Jordan,Id say most Jordanians are pretty decent people & relatively liberal-the Palis living there are the problem.Syria's conventional military forces can be swatted by Israel anyday-they have severely weakened over the past 20 years.As far as I see,the biggest conventional threats to Israel will come from the Saudis,the UAE & Egypt(when Mubarak gets bumped off)-Iran's nuclear programme is the only non-conventional worry.Im not sure about Saudi Arabia's CSS-2 missiles(They have a range of over 2000kms).They will probably try to get an upgrade from the Chinese.An year or so ago,Mossad leaked a report stating that Pakistan may enter into a secret agreement with the KSA to base nuclear tipped MRBMs on Saudi soil-which would guarantee deterrence against Israel & a 2nd strike capability against India.
The missile range is well enough to reach all of Israel without a problem.
t is pretty clear that what is on the surface is not what is actually happening. When you follow the arms sales, one would have to come to the conclusion that the US administration is anti-Israel and Anti-Democracy in action. Two faced at best, way beyond suspicious at worst.
Yep,if this is the evidence one sees.
BTW,did you see this-http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1344543/posts
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