The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has notified Congress of a potential foreign military sale (FMS) of various munitions and related equipment to the UAE.
According to the estimated $4bn sale, the UAE has requested supply of 5,000 GBU-39/B small diametre bombs (SDB) with BRU-61 carriage systems, eight SDB guided test vehicles for aircraft integration, 16 SDB captive flight and load build trainers, 1,200 AGM-154C joint stand off weapon (JSOW), ten JSOW captive air training missiles (CATMs), 300 AGM-84H standoff land attack missiles-expanded response (SLAM-ER) missiles.
Additional equipment includes 40 CATM-84H missiles, 20 ATM-84H SLAM-ER telemetry missiles, four dummy air training missiles, 30 AWW-13 data link pods, munitions storage security and training, weapon operational flight program software development, support equipment, spare and repair parts, and other related elements of logistics support.
Announced in support of the UAE Air Force’s F-16 fighter fleet, the munitions sale is expected to enhance the country’s military readiness and capabilities to address existing and future regional threats, reduce the reliance on US forces in the region, and enhance any coalition missions the US may undertake.
The potential sale also contributes to the US’s foreign policy and national security by enhancing the security of a friendly country that continues to serve as a vital force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle Eastern region.
The UAE continues host-nation support of US forces stationed at Al Dhafra Air Base, while playing a significant role in supporting US regional interests.
Boeing, Indiana-based Raytheon and Arizona-based Raytheon will serve as prime contractors for the FMS programme.
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Image: A UAE Air Force’s F-16 Block 60 aircraft taking off from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth in US. Photo: courtesy of Hohum.
