Tensions seen boosting US missile defence exports

By Jim Wolf

FARNBOROUGH (Reuters) - Overseas sales of the U.S. Army's core missile defence system appear set to boom, spurred by tensions surrounding Iran, North Korea and other regional disputes.

Poland, Taiwan, Kuwait, Turkey, South Korea, Saudi Arabia and Qatar are among countries that could spin off billions of dollars in related revenue over the next five years, according to Raytheon Co, the army's primary contractor for the Patriot air and missile defence system.

Raytheon Chief Executive Bill Swanson said in April that sales could be in the "big billions" by 2013 or 2014 for what the company calls the world's premier system of its kind.

The name "Patriot" is an acronym of Phased Array Tracking Radar to Intercept Of Target. Currently, one version or another is used by the U.S. Army and partners in 10 countries: Germany, Greece, Israel, Japan, Kuwait, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Taiwan and South Korea, which became the latest addition last year.

Patriot competitors are made by companies in Israel, Russia and France.

Separately, Lockheed Martin Corp, the Pentagon's No. 1 supplier by sales, is the prime contractor for an upgraded Patriot Advanced Capability PAC-3 missile and its launch containers that may be integrated into the Patriot system.

Waltham, Massachusetts-based Raytheon is highlighting the system at the Farnborough air show, a biennial arms bazaar and aviation showcase that opened on Monday near London.

The company said Tuesday it had received more than $200 million (100 million pounds) in its latest wave of Patriot-related contracts, including deals involving Kuwait, South Korea and the U.S. Army.