CROATIA & U.S. COMPANY SIGN AGREEMENT ON RADAR SYSTEMS PURCHASE

ZAGREB, June 8 (Hina) - Croatian Assistant Defence Minister Vladimir Zagorec and United States company "Locheed Martin" representative Robert Ostrowski on Tuesday signed an agreement on the purchase of five FPS-117 radar systems for air space surveillance. Present at the signing was Croatian Defence Minister Pavao Miljavac and a "Locheed Martin" delegation. The radar systems will be in use in about two years; they will be delivered in 18 months, while the additional six months will be spent on training crews. Miljavac said the agreement was the continuation of a strategic Croatian air force modernisation programme. The systems intended for military and civil use will be incorporated in the present system, and are adaptable to similar systems within NATO and the European flight control association, the defence minister said. He reminded the US$94 million-worth purchase had been made possible via a 12-year loan. The United States Ambassador to Croatia, William Montgomery, also expressed satisfaction with the agreement, stressing it was a very important step for Croatia. The systems will enable full security in and surveillance of Croatia's air space, he said. (hina) ha