United States. agrees to add 30 F-16s to United Arab Emirate's fleet of 60

.S. agrees to add 30 F-16s to United Arab Emirate's fleet of 60 

GeoStrategy direct w/e 05-Feb-14

The United States is proceeding on another F-16 multi-role fighter project for the United Arab Emirates. 

The administration of President Barack Obama has approved a UAE request for training, spare parts and logistics for 30 F-16 Block 61 aircraft, purchased directly from Lockheed Martin. The latest request, valued at $270 million, would also support the upgrade of the UAE's current fleet of nearly 60 F-16 Block 60 platforms. 

"The sale of additional F-16s to the UAE is consistent with U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives," the Defense Security Cooperation Agency said. "The UAE will have no difficulty absorbing this additional equipment and support into its armed forces." 

[In what could mark a related development, the administration also announced plans to sell 24 AH-64 Apache attack helicopters to Iraq. The administration has already notified Congress that six additional Apaches would be leased to the Iraq Army for training.] 

DSCA said it notified Congress of the UAE request on Jan. 23. The Pentagon agency said the equipment would include guns, night-vision, inertial navigation systems, joint mission planning and weapons integration. 

"The proposed sale will improve the UAE's capability to meet current and future regional threats," DSCA said. "The UAE continues host-nation support of vital U.S. forces stationed at Al Dhafra Air Base; plays a vital role in supporting U.S. regional interests; and has proven to be a valued partner and an active participant in overseas contingency operations." 

L-M was designated the prime contractor of the latest project. Officials said the project would not include offsets for Abu Dhabi. 

"Implementation of this sale will require the assignment of additional U.S. government or contractor representatives to the UAE," DSCA said on Jan. 24. "The actual number required to support the program will be determined in joint negotiations as the program proceeds through the development, production, and equipment installation phases." 

In October, 2013, the administration approved a UAE request valued at $4 billion for new precision strike munitions for the Block 60 aircraft. They were identified as the AGM-84H SLAM-ER cruise missile, AGM-154C Joint Stand Off Weapon and GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bomb.