GCC FOCUSES ON AIR DEFENSE, NAVY

ABU DHABI [MENL] -- Gulf Cooperation Council militaries have launched an effort to bolster the air defense and navies to prepare for any war with Iran. Western industry sources said Gulf Arab states such as Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates have led the way with procurement and development programs meant to bolster defenses in the Gulf. The sources said the three GCC states envisioned an Iranian attack on their oil facilities amid any U.S.-led war against Teheran. "The key threats will be an Iranian attack on oil facilities or on oil ships in the Straits of Hormuz," a Gulf industry source said. "These countries need an answer to these threats and quickly." The sources said the GCC focus would be on attack helicopters, fast attack craft, radars and air and missile defense. They said GCC states expect massive Iranian missile fire in any war with the United States.