TURKEY: LOCKHEED OFFERS 1-BILLION DOLLAR 'PATRIOT' MISSILE DEAL

Istanbul, 25 August (AKI) - US-based company Lockheed Martin has offered to supply Turkey with a 'Patriot' missile system - a defence against nuclear and chemical missile attacks - in a deal worth one billion dollars. "We're seeking industry partners in Turkey now to help us manufacture this system to provide maximum benefit not only on defence capability, but also on technology transfer," Lockheed Martin's Missiles and Fire Control international business development unit vice president, John Ward said in a press conference in Washington.

The system being discussesd with Turkish officials is the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3).

Defence officials in Ankara are considering the offer but are also expected to evaluate bids from other manufaturers of missile defence systems. Russia has said it is seeking to sell Turkey its S-300 or S-400 missile systems .

Lockheed Martin is also reportedly in negotiations to upgrade Patriot systems in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Japan Taiwan, Greece, Germany, The Netherlands, Israel and Spain.