BRITAIN is poised to clinch huge defence orders in the Middle East, it
was disclosed last night.
Racal Radio has won a #1.5m contract to supply its Jaguar military
radio to Oman to be fitted into the country's new British-built
Challenger 2 tanks. It is likely that a number of other Gulf states will
buy Jaguar to fit into their armoured vehicles, including the American
M1 and the French Leclerc tanks.
The Gulf states, which form the Gulf Co-operation Council, are anxious
to have radio interoperability between their various armoured vehicles.
The countries include Saudi Arabia, Oman, Kuwait, and the United Arab
Emirates.
''Racal radios are likely to be used in vehicles such as American
tanks in the Gulf because of the need for interoperability in GCC
countries,'' said a senior Ministry of Defence source.
The Jaguar radio is already in use in 42 countries worldwide,
including the Gulf states.
Racal chief executive David Elsbury said yesterday: ''We are currently
responding to the requirement for tactical radio communications systems
from a number of countries within the Middle East.''
Racal also announced orders worth more than #15m for colour monitors
for the fleet of Nato Awacs airborne early warning aircraft and Royal
navy frigates.
Vickers unveiled a new armoured fighting vehicle at the exhibition
called the Mark Eleven, which is expected to secure significant orders
in Africa and possibly the Far East and Middle East.
The vehicle combines an armoured personnel carrier with a 105mm gun
giving it the firepower of a main battle tank.
Mr George Gibson, regional sales manager for Vickers, said: ''The
feedback has been tremendous. It appears to be what the customer
wants.''
However, there was concern in the industry about a new Treasury
clampdown on MoD expenditure.
Clear signs of the defence cuts were the failure of the Ministry of
Defence to announce any new contracts at the exhbition, and a display
with one of the Army's obsolete Chieftain tanks.
A consortium of GEC-Marconi, Royal Ordnance, Vickers, and Perkins
Engines is marketing 800 upgraded tanks as the Chieftain 2000, which it
hopes to sell to Pakistan and other countries looking for a cheap tank
option.
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