Latest News
- Amir Of Kuwait And Jordan King Renew Commitment To Regional Secu...
- 37 Arrested With Narcotics And Firearms
- Outrage Over Candidate's Arrest
- Six Stores Shut Down In Jahra For Selling Fake Goods
- Peddlers Caught With Drug Pills And Crystal Meth
- PAFN Shuts Down Restaurants And Bakeries Over Violations
- MoI Officer And Lawyer Jailed On Fraud Charges For Bad Cheques
- Thousands Of Bangladeshis Gathered To Pray For Rain
- Kuwait University Symposium Addresses Student Counselors' Role I...
- Kuwait Affirms The Importance Of Group Work In Addressing Common...
- Urgent Call For Kuwaitization: Civil Service Commission Aims For...
- Kuwait Halts Work Permits For Egyptian Workers Amidst New Regula...
Kuwait Buys 30 Choppers Worth 1 Billion Euros
Kuwait’s armed forces placed a firm order worth more than 1 billion euros ($1.1 billion) for 30 Airbus Caracal military helicopters, the French defence ministry said. The deal signed on Tuesday is part of 2.5 billion euros in French defence contracts announced last year by the Gulf emirate. The long-range H225M tactical transport helicopters, each seating 28 troops in addition to crew, are destined for the Kuwaiti army and national guard, the French ministry said, with deliveries to begin early in 2019.
Airbus confirmed the order in a statement. Continued from Page 1 The Kuwaiti order is a much-needed boost for the Airbus Group’s helicopter division, which has been hit by weaker demand from the oil and gas industry.
It has also suffered in the wake of April’s fatal crash of a H225 Super Puma, the model’s civilian version, blamed on gearbox metal fatigue in a preliminary report. The Ministry of Defense said in a statement that Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense Sheikh Khaled Al-Jarrah Al-Sabah, with attendance of his visiting French counterpart Jean- Yves Le Drian, signed the contract with representatives of the manufacturing company, Airbus Helicopters, to buy 30 military Caracal helicopters for employment by the Kuwaiti land, marine and air forces.
The Ministry of Defense added in a statement that six of the purchased multi-wing aircraft would be allocated for the Kuwaiti National Guards, affirming the keenness on acquiring such copters of high operational capacities and advanced specifications to back up the armed forces in combat missions. The copters are equipped with sophisticated electronic systems and airto- surface missiles, the Ministry of Defense said, adding that the deal stipulates logistical support, training the pilots and technicians with all necessary equipment for the mock military training drills to be provided. The ceremony of signing the contract was attended by top military officers and commanders.
France has given Kuwait military support since the 1990 invasion of the country by Saddam Hussein’s Iraqi forces. The two countries are also fighting together in the international coalition against the Islamic State jihadist group. “With this deal, Kuwait further strengthens the strategic partnership which has bound together our two countries for several decades, while we are currently engaged side-by-side in the fight against Daesh in Iraq and Syria,” Le Drian said in a statement, using the Arabic term for Islamic State. Kuwait’s army will use 24 of the helicopters mainly for search and rescue missions and for transport purposes, but they are also fitted with machine guns allowing them to offer ground troops cover from the air. The Kuwait National Guard will operate the remaining six helicopters.
SOURCE : ARABTIMES
Trending News
-
Kuwait Implements Home Biometrics Services Ahead O...
14 April 2024
-
Kuwait Airways Provides Update On Flight Schedule...
14 April 2024
-
Kuwait Airways Introduces Convenient Home Luggage...
15 April 2024
-
Expat Residency Law Amended By Kuwait Ministerial...
20 April 2024
-
Gathering For Eid Al-Fitr Prayers: Kuwaiti Citizen...
10 April 2024
-
Two Expats Are Arrested For Stealing From Salmiya...
17 April 2024
-
An Egyptian Expat Dies At Kuwait's Airport
11 April 2024
-
Kuwait Airways Resumes Flights To Beirut And Oman...
15 April 2024
-
Bay Zero Water Park Kuwait: Summer Season Opens Ei...
11 April 2024
-
Temperature Increases Cause Electricity Load Index...
21 April 2024
Comments Post Comment