Swedish defence equipment manufacturing company, Saab, has agreed to supply 'Airborne Warning and Control System' (Awacs) to Pakistan on liberal terms of 'supplier-credit' of $1 billion, and transfer of technology.
Sources in the Cabinet here told Business Recorder that it was necessary to acquire latest the Awacs to safeguard the country's air defence. "Efforts to acquire such a system were being made since 1997 and, after a number of trials and evaluation of different systems in the world, Pakistan Air Force finally selected the Swedish system in 2004," sources quoted Defence Ministry officials as briefing the Cabinet on last Wednesday.
They said that the system would comprise 'Saab' aircraft, mounted with Ericson computer-based software technology. They said that technical and commercial offers were evaluated and, after intense negotiations, a financial and technological package, with an attractive offset package, was agreed upon with the company.
They said that one Cabinet member asked Defence Ministry officials that the offset facilities should include training of Pakistan's software engineers.
It may be remembered that the Cabinet in its May 24 meeting had approved purchase of the latest surveillance aircraft--Awacs--for PAF from Sweden.
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