UNIPATH STAFF
Kuwait signed a contract with Airbus Helicopters in August 2016 to buy 30 Caracal military helicopters, 24 of which will go to the Kuwait Air Force and six to the Kuwait National Guard.
The long-range, tactical helicopters seat 28 troops and can be used for combat, search and rescue, naval operations, medical evacuation and military transportation. The deal was reportedly worth more than $1.1 billion, with the first deliveries expected by early 2019.
“This contract … reflects a strategic relationship between Kuwait and France built on more than 30 years of French commitment to the emirate, notably in the conflict following the 1990 invasion of Kuwait,” the French Ministry of Defense said in a statement.
The deal includes training for crews and maintenance staff as well as two years’ worth of support service.
Sources: IHS Jane’s 360, DefenseNews, Gulf Business