By Robert Wall and Rory Jones
ABU DHABI--The United Arab Emirates on Monday said it awarded
$2.6 billion in defense contracts including the purchase of two
European satellites.
The satellites deal with Airbus Group NV (AIR.FR) and the
Franco-Italian Thales Alenia Space joint venture was the single
largest contract awarded on Monday at the International Defence and
Conference arms fair. The contract is valued 3.75 billion U.A.E.
dirhams ($1 billion) and includes the purchase of ground equipment,
Maj. Gen. Obaid Al Ketbi told reporters.
The U.A.E. said it awarded 19 contracts overall on Monday. The
deals were dominated by contracts for local industry, including
domestically produced protected vehicles and drones. The U.A.E. is
trying to grow its own arms industry.
The deals included several contracts for spare parts, though
Maj. Gen. Al Ketbi said the expenditure wasn't linked to increased
operations by the country's military against Islamic insurgents in
the region.
The U.A.E., one of the world's largest importers of weapons,
continues to assess its needs for more combat jets, Mr. Al Ketbi
said.
Write to Robert Wall at robert.wall@wsj.com and Rory Jones at
rory.jones@wsj.com
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