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TAIWAN: U.S. defense giant Lockheed Martin has withdrawn its bid to supply Taiwan with an early-warning radar system as the island was reconsidering the controversial arms deal, leading defense journal Jane's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