US approves $23bn F-35A, MQ-9B and munition sale to UAE

The US State Department announced on November 10 that it has approved the possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) of F-35A Lightning IIs, MQ-9Bs and munitions to the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Approval of the potential deal, worth an estimated total of US$23.37bn, was announced in a media release from the US State Department’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA), after it had notified the US Congress. This proposed sale comprises 50 conventional take-off and landing (CTOL)-configured F-35As, worth US$10.4bn; 18 MQ-9B SkyGuardian medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aircraft systems (UAS), worth US$2.97bn; and thousands of air-to-air/air-to-ground munitions, worth US$10bn.

In his own statement, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, outlined that this package recognises the “deepening relationship” between the two nations and acknowledges the UAE’s “need for advanced defence capabilities to deter and defend itself against heightened threats from Iran.

“The UAE’s historic agreement to normalise relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to positively transform the region’s strategic landscape. Our adversaries, especially those in Iran, know this and will stop at nothing to disrupt this shared success,” he added.

This sale has been in the offing since the Abraham Accords – a peace agreement between Israel, Bahrain and the UAE – was signed in September 2020. The UAE has been very public about its desire to acquire US military equipment, including Lockheed Martin’s F-35A Lightning II multi-role stealth fighter, to strengthen its defence capabilities.

The request for F-35As was initially rejected by the Israeli government, which cited that the sale of such equipment would damage the country’s ability to maintain a technological advantage over its regional neighbours.

However, a joint statement from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the nation’s Defence Minister, Benny Gantz, on October 23 seemingly reversed this opposition. The statement said: “The Prime Minister and Defence Minister both agree that since the US is upgrading Israel’s military capability and is maintaining Israeli’s qualitative military edge, Israel will not oppose the sale of these systems to the UAE.”

F-35A Lightning II

As part of this proposed package. The DSCA has approved the possible sale of 50 CTOL-configured Lockheed Martin F-35A Lightning IIs, as well as 54 Pratt & Whitney F135 afterburning turbofan engines. Command, control, communication, computers and intelligence/communication, navigation and identification (C4I/CNI) equipment and electronic warfare systems are also included in the proposed sale.

The DSCA adds that the F-35’s unique Autonomic Logistics Global Support (AGLS) system and new Operational Data Integrated Network (ODIN) platform will also be included in the sale. Additionally, the deal also includes personnel training, F-35 unique chaff and infrared flares, associated spare and repair parts, support equipment, technical documents and relevant training devices.

In a media release, the DSCA said: “The proposed sale of F-35s will provide the government of the UAE with a credible defence capability to deter aggression in the region and ensure interoperability with US forces. The UAE has demonstrated a commitment to modernising its military and will have no difficulty absorbing these aircraft into their armed forces.

“The proposed sale of this equipment and support represents a significant increase in capability and will alter the regional military balance,” it added.

MQ-9B

The DSCA has also approved the possible FMS of 18 General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) MQ-9B medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to the UAE. The potential sale also includes 25 Raytheon multi-spectral targeting systems (MTS-D) electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) sensors, 19 AN/APY-8 synthetic aperture radars (SAR) with ground moving target indicators and 515 AGM-114R Hellfire air-to-surface missiles.

The sale also includes an unspecified number of Honeywell’s TPE-331 turboprop engines, Leonardo’s Seaspray 7500 maritime radars and SAGE 750 electronic surveillance measures (ESM) systems. Anti-submarine warfare (ASW) mission kits have also been requested as part of the possible FMS, as well as AN/SSQ-36B thermometric sonobuoys, AN/SSQ-53G passive sonobuoys and AN/SSQ-62F active sonobuoys.

In a media release, the DSCA said: “The proposed sale will improve the UAE’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing timely intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), target acquisition, locate submarines and counter-land and counter-surface sea capabilities for its security and defence.”

Munitions

In addition to the purchase of combat aircraft, the US has approved the sale of US$10bn worth of munitions to the UAE. Notably, this deal includes:

• 802 AIM-120C8 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missiles (AMRAAM)
• 2,500 GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB-1)
• 2,004 Mk82 500lb general purpose bombs
• 1,002 Mk83 1,000lb general purpose bombs
• 1,000 Mk84 2,000lb general purpose bombs
• 650 AGM-154C Joint Stand Off Weapons (JSOW)
• 50 AGM-154E Joint Stand Off Weapons – Extended Range (JSOW-ER)
• 150 AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGM)

A number of inert munitions for training use and tail kits for a variety of Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAMs) have also been included in the deal. The DSCA states that: “This proposed sale will improve the UAE’s capability to meet current and future threats by providing enhanced capabilities to various aircraft platforms in effective defence of air, land and sea.

“The proposed sale of the missiles/munitions and support will increase interoperability with the US and align the UAE Air Force’s capabilities with existing regional baselines. Further, the UAE continues to provide host-nation support of vital US forces stationed in the UAE and plays a vital role in supporting US regional interests,” it added.