Lockheed Martin withdraws bid

Lockheed Martin withdraws bid

TAIWAN: U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin has withdrawn its bid
to supply Taiwan with an early-warning radar system as the island
was reconsidering the controversial arms deal, leading defense
journal Jane's Defense Weekly said.

Taiwan's military authorities were re-evaluating the proposed
deal due to several factors, including the system's
vulnerability, inability to detect cruise missiles and
environmental concerns, Jane's quoted a Taiwan defense source as
saying in an article to be published on Wednesday.

"A large stationary radar like Pave Paws would be an easy
target for antiradiation missiles," the source said.

Lockheed Martin and Raytheon had been expected to submit
proposals this year to supply a radar aimed at countering the
ballistic missile threat from China, Jane's said.

Lockheed Martin was offering a modified version of the Medium
Extended Air Defense System, while Raytheon a modified AN/FPS-115
Pave Paws radar. --AFP