Flight Daily News

Interest from Saudi Arabia remains strong in upgrading its Patriot PAC-2 surface-to-air missiles to the latest PAC-3 theatre air defence missile configuration, according to Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control at the show yesterday.

Lockheed Martin, together with Raytheon, was in continual dialogue with military leaders and their air defence commanders and responding to their questions, said Dennis Cavin, Lockheed Martin vice-president, international air and missile defense strategic initiatives. PAC-3 is a ‘hit-to-kill’ missile capable of intercepting tactical ballistic missiles.

Asked if the deteriorating international situation with Iran, which possesses intermediate-range ballistic missiles, was spurring Saudi interest in PAC-3, he said: “I think all the Gulf Cooperation Council countries recognise the significance of the threat across the water and are ensuring they have the capabilities to defend against those threats.”

“It’s pretty much a question now of availability of resources and budgets to procure the capability they want.”

---

Back to the rest of Dubai 2007 show news, blogs, and pictures