UAE first Mideast buyer of PAC-3 missile -Lockheed

WASHINGTON, Dec 23 (Reuters) - The United Arab Emirates is
the first Middle East customer to buy Lockheed Martin Corp's
(LMT.N) Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missile program,
the company said on Tuesday.

Lockheed said it expects "in excess of $1.8 billion" in
PAC-3 business over the life of the initial UAE program.

The UAE purchase is part of a $774 million Pentagon
contract, in which Lockheed will supply PAC-3 missiles to the
U.S. Army as well as the first sale to the UAE. Deliveries are
to be completed by July 2011.

Other foreign buyers of the PAC-3 missile system, which is
designed to destroy enemy missiles by colliding with them,
include Germany, Japan and the Netherlands, the company said.

The new contract includes production of 172 PAC-3 missiles,
42 launcher modification kits and other equipment, Lockheed
said.