Angola purchases maritime surveillance equipment, vessels

WASHINGTON, Jan. 8 (UPI) -- Angola will establish maritime surveillance stations and acquire two fast-attack vessels following agreements signed by Angolan President Eduardo dos Santos with Finmeccanica subsidiaries.

Under the terms of one contract, Finmeccanica subsidiary Selex ES will supply Angola with radar and repeater station communication systems. The country will also acquire two fast-attack naval craft and training for the country's naval forces from Finmeccanica subsidiary Whitehead Sistemi Subacquei.

Defense News reports the naval craft and additional equipment will be used to support the National Maritime Security Coordination Center, which is planned to be build in the country's capital of Luanda along with three regional surveillance base stations along the coastline.

The program is valued at approximately $133 million. Angolan government officials have not yet disclosed the types of radars they plan to procure.

The maritime surveillance contract is the latest in a series of deals between Angola and Italy-based Finmeccanica, which included the purchase of six AgustaWestland helicopters and two Whitehead Sistemi Subacquei patrol boats.