Spain's Defense Ministry is to purchase 100 armored vehicles with 100 million euros (about 150 million U.S. dollars) to equip the country's peacekeepers in Lebanon and Afghanistan, the daily El Pais reported Monday.
The purchase is part of a program approved last November by the government to buy a total of 575 armored vehicles with 321 million euros (about 482 million dollars) before 2010, the report said.
It is also the first major military equipment purchase since Defense Minister Carme Chacon took her post, El Pais said.
According to the paper, the vehicles should have the carrying capacity of eight to 10 people, with a better shield against explosives than Pegaso BMR, an outdated wheeled armored personnel carrier currently used by Spanish peacekeepers.
The favorite models include RG-31, manufactured by British firm BAE Systems' subsidiary in South Africa, Israeli company Rafael's Gold and German company KMW's Dingo.
The Spanish government is expected to give the green light to the purchase of the 100 armored vehicles, which will be delivered to the Defense Ministry between the end of this year and the beginning of 2009, said the report.
Source:Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article