Defence & Security

Pentagon plans up to US$10.4 billion in Gulf arms sales

The Bush administration announced plans to sell advanced anti-missile systems to the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait with a potential combined value of nearly US$10.4 billion.

The deals would be the biggest yet in a U.S. drive to bolster Gulf Arab states, including Saudi Arabia, as a counterweight to Iran, Syria, al Qaeda and Hezbollah. The Pentagon told Congress the United Arab Emirates had asked about buying 288 Patriot Advanced Capability PAC-3 missiles and related gear worth up to US$9 billion.

Kuwait seeking PAC-3 missiles, upgrades

Kuwait has requested a possible US$1.36 billion sale of 80 PAC-3 missiles, PAC-2 missile upgrades to GEM (Guidance Enhanced Missile)-T, and Patriot ground support equipment upgrades as well as associated equipment and services, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) reported.

Air Force promotes airlift options for Middle East

The US Air Force is looking to build partnerships in the Middle East in the realm of airlift since there is a need both for tactical and strategic capacity in the region, the service's top international representative said at the 2007 Dubai Air Show.

"Lift is a big deal. Why? Everybody needs it," Bruce Lemkin, deputy under secretary of the Air Force for International Affairs said. "We just did a C-17 demonstration in Qatar. We are doing a C-130J demonstration next week," Lemkin said, referencing Boeing's [BA] large-sized Globemaster III and Lockheed Martin's [LMT] medium-sized Super Hercules transport platforms, respectively.

US State Department holds off on Saudi arms deal

The State Department has agreed to wait until January to announce plans to sell precision-guided bombs to Saudi Arabia, after senior-ranking lawmakers said they wanted more time to review the deal.

Congress was to receive formal notification of the arms sales agreement earlier this month. While members were briefed on the deal last month, the official announcement would kick off a 30-day review period during which lawmakers could move to block it.

South Korea, Saudi Arabia agree on closer defence cooperation

Saudi Arabia is considering dispatching a defence attaché to its embassy in Seoul to help promote bilateral military ties, South Korea's defence ministry said.

The two sides also agreed to seek closer cooperation in the defence industry, the ministry added in a press release summarising the results of the weekend talks between Defence Minister Kim Jang-soo [Kim Chang-su] and his Saudi counterpart Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz.