Kuwait is to take delivery of 16 Apache attack helicopters from the United States in December, local media reported Thursday.

The delivery of the 16 advanced AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters is part of a 2.1 billion U.S. dollars deal signed between the United States and Kuwait in 2002.

According to the deal, the U.S. should offer Kuwait spare engines, necessary spare parts, about 300 Hellfire missiles, maintenance and the training of 48 pilots, instructors as well as 200 Kuwaiti technicians.

The batch of Apache will also be equipped with electronic protection systems, Longbow radars and anti-armor Hellfire air-to- surface missiles.

Since its liberation from the Iraq's occupation in 1991, the oil-rich emirate has spent billions of dollars on arms purchases.

Source: Xinhua