GCC WILL FOCUS ON AIR DEFENSE, TRAINING

ABU DHABI [MENL] -- Gulf Cooperation Council states are expected to shelvethe procurement of major weapons system for the integration and improvementof their armed forces. Gulf analysts and industry executives said the six Gulf Arab states arenot expected to complete a major aircraft or tank purchase until toward theend ofthis decade. The exception could be Saudi Arabia, which has sought anadvanced aircraft to replace its aging F-5E fighter-jet.