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2014-07-01

LOCKHEED MARTIN’S STRONG GULF PRESENCE

In an exclusive interview with Nation Shield Journal, ORVILLE PRINS, Vice President, International Business Development, Integrated Air and Missile Defense at Lockheed Martin discussed the status of Patriot systems in the Middle East and the ever-expanding market in the GCC. He stressed many nations in the Middle East and Asia realise the importance of layered defense systems and nations the Lockheed Martin deals with are not viewed as clients – they’re partners.

By: Sakha Pramod

Some Middle Eastern countries had shown interest in your Patriot defense systems. What is the current status?

The Patriot weapons system is a joint program between Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. The Lockheed Martin role is primarily on the interceptor. So what we do from a patriot weapon system standpoint is to provide that capability in the Patriot weapon system so that it can counter tactical ballistic missiles that may carry payloads of weapons of mass destruction. Answering your broader question, the Patriot weapons system is already in Kuwait, and Kuwait has purchased the PAC-3 missile as part of their weapon system. Qatar is in the process of evaluating both Patriot and THAAD. Regarding the integrated air missile defense solution, Saudi Arabia already has the Patriot weapons system but they can quickly upgrade and are evaluating the requirement of the PAC-3 Interceptor.
The UAE has looked at a layered defense capability to counter potential threats through the acquisition of Patriot weapon system with PAC-3 providing the capability. Combined with this, they acquired and signed the contract for THAAD in December 2011.

Some time ago you said South Korea needs a multilayered missile defense system to counter growing threats from North Korea. Has Seoul shown interest in your missile defense systems?

Many countries both in the Middle East and in the Asia Pacific region recognize the importance of layered defense. Layered defense is important both from the lower tier and the upper tier side, all the way from varying ranges and capabilities of threats from cruise missiles, unmanned aerial systems, fighter aircrafts or what we call the air raiding threats. South Korea has identified what they call the Kill Chain which is associated with the ability akin to layered defense concept. So South Korea is seeking to meet their needs associated with that Kill Chain, all the way down to the integrated air missile defense capability.

In the Middle East, threat levels are increasingly based on what has been happening in Syria. Do you think there is a continuing high level of interest there in what goes on in the AMD arena?

I don’t think Syria and what is going on in the conflict there has significantly affected the perspective on the use of air missile defense in the region. I think the focus on Air and Missile Defense capabilities in the region continues because of other potential threats. We have been working very closely with our partners in that area and we have also been working with Saudi Arabia in that field.

Do you think the UAE is a perfect example of how different AMD systems can complement one another using a layered air defense architecture?

Yes, I think the UAE is an excellent example. They recognize the need for integrated air missile defense solutions. So they are looking at a capability which is broader than just AMD to address those potential challenges and threats to a command control architecture and a command central capability. Recognizing their multiple sensors that need support is the second point. And they have evaluated those space-based, air-based and ground-based sensors. And then there is the weapon system that could provide that support.

The UAE is the first country outside of the US to procure THAAD and Qatar could be the second, with other nations also interested in the system based on its capability - is the GCC going to be a major client for you?

We don’t look at them as clients; we look at them as partners, a long term partnership, that is government-to-government. It is bilateral, it is multilateral and we are happy that we are able to support that relationship in the region between the United States, the UAE and other countries from the Gulf. Our partners expect us to deliver on our commitments. So we look at that on a long term basis.

Which countries in Asia have shown interest in your defense systems?

The primary countries in Asia that have shown an interest are South Korea, Japan and Taiwan. Again this is just from an air missile system standpoint not from all the capabilities that Lockheed Martin has. We have a broad relationship in Asia, in the Pacific region that far exceeds what we are doing in air missile defense. We have had some dialogue in Australia - they continue to evaluate where they may go from an air missile defense capability standpoint.

Do you offer the same product and technology to rival nations?

I want to emphasize that everything that we do in the air missile defense arena is closely coordinated with and approved by the US Government. The relationship of the US Government with another government really defines how we look at that relationship. And that does not mean that we do not consider their interests and we do not partner with those countries, but it is on the basis of their relationship with the US Government. It is not a gatekeeper role, not a yes/no role, it is a partnership between the two countries and militaries. We are honored that we can support that relationship, but it all does have to go through and be approved by the US Government.

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