Pak shops for defence equipment in Sweden

London: Pakistan is finalising a Rs 100 crore defence deal with a Swedish firm for delivery of Airborne Early Warning (AEW) surveillance system.

According to a report in the latest issue of Janes Defence Weekly, Pakistan moved a step closer to adopt a Saab-Ericcson AEW system after signing a provisional contract.

The contract envisages replacing of F-27 Fokker planes from the Pakistan Air Force.

This was announced by the Swedish company on October 18, 10 days after the killer quake struck Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK), the weekly said.

The deal was believed to be for seven aircraft but a final step had to be taken as the company was going to seek a final nod from the US.

The contract is worth Rs 100 crore with two-third going to Saab Company for providing Turboprop aircraft and the rest to Ericsson, which would be providing Erieye airborne radar.

Saab Chief Executive Ake Svenson was quoted saying that number of outstanding issues remained to be resolved but he said that it is understood the deal was now close to being finalised.