US companies Boeing and Lockheed Martin have been awarded contracts worth a total of $2.8 billion for military transport aircraft by the United Arab Emirates, an official said.

The UAE armed forces awarded a 5.9 billion dirham ($1.61 billion) contract to Lockheed Martin and a 4.3 billion dirham deal to Boeing, said Major General Obaid Al-Ketbi, chairman of the Idex defence exhibition in Abu Dhabi.

Lockheed Martin will supply 12 C-130J aircraft and Boeing will supply four C-17 aircraft, which the UAE has said it needs to enhance airlift capabilities.

Abu Dhabi-based investment company Waha Capital will undertake the purchase and manage the financing of the aircraft, Al-Ketbi told reporters. -Reuters