Pentagon notifies Congress of $7b defence deal with UAE

Dubai: The US Defence Department has proposed the sale of an advanced US missile defence system valued at up to $7 billion (about Dh25.7 billion) to the UAE, the Pentagon said in a statement released on Thursday.

Gulf News has learnt that the deal has been under discussion between the UAE and the United States for the past several years and has nothing to do with recent developments in the region.

The Pentagon's Missile Defence Agency said in a proposal letter sent on Monday to Congressional committees that it wants to sell the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence system, also known as THAAD, to the UAE, according to Reuters.

The missile shield, built by Lockheed Martin Corp with a system radar from Raytheon Co, is designed to shoot down incoming missiles in their final stage as they fall toward targets.

It is part of a planned US missile defence shield in a network that includes a variety of ground-based, ship-based and airborne missiles and tools.

Under the proposal, UAE would buy equipment that includes three THAAD fire units, 147 missiles, nine launchers and four radar sets. Gulf News has also learnt that the deal will be under review for 28 days.