Thales bids for $3B Saudi missile deal
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- French military electronics giant Thales is negotiating with Saudi Arabia for a contract, worth up to $3 billion, to upgrade the kingdom's air-defense network, particularly those guarding key military and government sites.
The French company's regional arm, Thales International Middle East, is well-established in the kingdom.
Over the last three decades Thales has maintained the Shahine and Crotale surface-to-air missiles built by its predecessor, Thomson-CSF, for Saudi Arabia. The Shahine is a land-based mobile version of the Crotale and was specifically designed for the kingdom's air defense forces.
It became operational in 1980 and the 40 Crotale, 73 Shahine and 68 Crotale/Shahine launchers held by the Saudis have been maintained and periodically upgraded by Thales. The company's latest Shahine modernization contract was signed in December 2010.
The Intelligence Online Web site observed that "after the French rail company SNCF's failure to obtain the contract to build the Mecca-Medina 'Pilgrim Train' line and Thales' unsuccessful bid for the Miksa border security contract, the French are hoping that air defense may yet (get) that much hoped-for mega-contract with Saudi Arabia
The French company's regional arm, Thales International Middle East, is well-established in the kingdom.
Over the last three decades Thales has maintained the Shahine and Crotale surface-to-air missiles built by its predecessor, Thomson-CSF, for Saudi Arabia. The Shahine is a land-based mobile version of the Crotale and was specifically designed for the kingdom's air defense forces.
It became operational in 1980 and the 40 Crotale, 73 Shahine and 68 Crotale/Shahine launchers held by the Saudis have been maintained and periodically upgraded by Thales. The company's latest Shahine modernization contract was signed in December 2010.
The Intelligence Online Web site observed that "after the French rail company SNCF's failure to obtain the contract to build the Mecca-Medina 'Pilgrim Train' line and Thales' unsuccessful bid for the Miksa border security contract, the French are hoping that air defense may yet (get) that much hoped-for mega-contract with Saudi Arabia
السعوديه تتفاوض على عقد بقيمة 3 مليار دولار مع شركة تاليس لتطوير شبكة الدفاع الجوي
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