UAE purchase of weapons by nearly $ 700 million.

On the passing of Abu Dhabi, the largest regional exhibition IDEX arms United Arab Emirates signed a contract for a total amount of 692 million dollars, transfer agency AFP.

In addition, according to the Ministry of Defense of the UAE, negotiations on a further two contracts amounting to 128 million dollars.

Most of the contracts were signed with local enterprises. So shipbuilding company from Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Ship Building has received two major orders for 12 ships and repair an additional 12 ships.

UAE also signed two contracts with the French group Thales Communication for the supply of communications systems for SOTAS in the UAE armed with tanks of French "Leclerc".

Negotiations with Boeing for the delivery of spare parts for helicopters Chinuk, as well as for training flight crews. The total contract could reach 102 million dollars.

For their part, representatives of Lockheed Martin said hope to put in the UAE before the end of 2009, about 12 military transport aircraft C-130J for the modernization of the outdated fleet.