UAE Getting F-35s with New Israeli Peace Deal?

talkitron · by **talkitron** » 19 Aug 2020, 01:03

A big incentive for the UAE to sign a peace deal with Israel was to buy F-35s from the US, according to this article. Trump is big on selling more US weapons to the Gulf countries.

"This may well be a major reason why the UAE is eager to sign a peace agreement with Israel. Such an agreement would allow open cooperation between the UAE and Israel's defense industries, which would be able to significantly upgrade the UAE armed forces, as well as paving the way for them to buy the most advanced US and European weapons systems."

https://en.globes.co.il/en/article-us-t ... 1001339722

element1loop · by **element1loop** » 19 Aug 2020, 01:12

Not buying a word of it, Israel lobbied hard to gain assurances it was the only country in the region who will get F-35, any time soon.

Corsair1963 · by **Corsair1963** » 19 Aug 2020, 01:28

Just the usual twisting of words by the media. As a number of Gulf Nations are likely to get the F-35 at some point just like the F-15 and F-16. Yet, that doesn't mean it's going to be anytime in the near future.

talkitron · by **talkitron** » 19 Aug 2020, 03:14

Any story may be false but Trump likes to sell airplanes and has a good personal relationship with the crown prince of Abu Dhabi. Let's say there is a 50% probability a deal is announced within 12 months, although the US election creates some uncertainty if Biden wins and doesn't like this plan.

quicksilver · by **quicksilver** » 19 Aug 2020, 03:23

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 19 Aug 2020, 06:00

Israel states opposition to Middle East F-35 sales
19 August 2020 Greg Waldron

"Israel has flatly stated its opposition to the sale of Lockheed Martin F-35 fighters to the United Arab Emirates, despite the recent normalisation of diplomatic relations between the two countries...." [no subscription]

Source: https://www.flightglobal.com/israel-sta ... 13.article

charlielima223 · by **charlielima223** » 19 Aug 2020, 08:32

Isn't there something prohibiting Arab states from acquiring the F-35?

Despite what most media are saying, it IS NOT a peace treaty. It is a normalizing of diplomatic relations.

quicksilver · by **quicksilver** » 19 Aug 2020, 10:47

charlielima223 wrote:Isn't there something prohibiting Arab states from acquiring the F-35?

Despite what most media are saying, it IS NOT a peace treaty. It is a normalizing of diplomatic relations.

US-Israel strategic cooperation provides Israel a qualitative military advantage.

https://m.jpost.com/israel-news/intel-m ... 35s-639040

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 19 Aug 2020, 14:14

I don't have a timesSUB so rely on this pPrune Post: https://www.pprune.org/military-aviatio ... st10864843

Anger at Arab ‘deal’ for US fighter jets
UNK unk

"Israeli euphoria at an agreement to establish diplomatic relations with the United Arab Emirates was replaced by anger yesterday after it was claimed that the Gulf state was close to signing a deal for US F-35 stealth fighter jets. Israeli hawks fear that the sale could end its military dominance in the Middle East.

Binyamin Netanyahu, the prime minister, denied that he had agreed to advanced arms sales to the UAE in the negotiations with the Trump administration, which brokered the agreement. His senior ministers said they did not know the details and the Americans did not comment.....

Israeli media reported that after its agreement to establish diplomatic relations with Israel the UAE would now be allowed to purchase the F-35 stealth jet, the most advanced military aircraft being produced in the US, which is in operational use with Israel and Britain, as well as advanced drones.

The UAE, which has a defence procurement budget assessed at £18 billion, much of which is spent on US arms, has been asking to buy the F-35 since at least 2017 but had been rebuffed by the US.

Mr Netanyahu said: “Israel did not give any agreement to any arms deals between the UAE and the US. On the contrary, the US repeatedly promised it is committed to ensuring Israel’s qualitative edge.”

However, he did not deny that such a deal could take place and the fact that he kept the negotiations with the UAE to himself, not updating senior ministers before Thursday’s announcement, has fuelled speculation...."

Source: https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/ange ... -z2bzfh3nm

spazsinbad · by **spazsinbad** » 19 Aug 2020, 14:27

Here is the 'peace agreement' term again from the PMO of Israel....

Israel rejects UAE F-35 buy part of peace agreement
19 Aug 2020 Gareth Jennings

"Israel has strongly rejected the notion that its historic peace agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) includes any reference to lifting restrictions on arms sales to the Gulf state in general, and on the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) in particular.

The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) issued its statement on 18 August, refuting claims circulating in the media and elsewhere that the deal with the UAE announced five days prior included the sale of any weapons that are currently restricted due to Washington’s long-standing pledge to maintain Israel’s military qualitative edge.

“The peace agreement with the United Arab Emirates does not include any reference to arms sales, and the US has made it clear that it will always take strict care to maintain Israel's qualitative edge”, the PMO said. “From the outset, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has opposed the sale of F-35s and other advanced weaponry to any country in the Middle East, including Arab countries that have peace agreements with the State of Israel."

Photo: https://www.janes.com/images/default-so ... w-7495.jpg

Source: https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news ... -agreement

geforcerfx · by **geforcerfx** » 19 Aug 2020, 17:57

While prob not going to happen for at least 5-10 years I would say the UAE is prob the front runner for being the first Arab nation to get the F-35. This deal with Israel just helps that more than anything else, they both operate some of the most advanced F-16 variants in the world and when the UAE got that the Israelis didn't seem to mind(yes the Israelis had F-16's for awhile before that).

blindpilot · by **blindpilot** » 19 Aug 2020, 22:20

geforcerfx wrote:While prob not going to happen for at least 5-10 years I would say the UAE is prob the front runner for being the first Arab nation to get the F-35. This deal with Israel just helps that more than anything else, they both operate some of the most advanced F-16 variants in the world and when the UAE got that the Israelis didn't seem to mind(yes the Israelis had F-16's for awhile before that).

From another thread viewtopic.php?f=61&t=57269

"Air Force F-35As from Hill Air Force Base, Utah, have patrolled the skies of the Middle East continuously for the past 16 months, ... operating from both its home base of Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, and a small forward-deployed location... ... while deployed, operated out of Al Dhafra—the base that has hosted Air Force stealth fighters deployed to the Middle East in recent years. .....The squadron returned to Hill in June, its deployment extended because of COVID-19 travel restrictions, and they have been replaced in theater by Hill’s 421st Fighter Squadron.

Seems like the UAE already has F-35's ... :shrug:

.. well maintained with excellent pilots.

Just Saying,
BP

talkitron · by **talkitron** » 20 Aug 2020, 02:02

Here is a pretty extensive New York Times article about the potential F-35 sales to the UAE. Trump is very much behind this but the Israeli government and some in Congress, which has an approval role, are not fans. Biden may not be a fan either but I wonder if he would cancel a deal that has been signed?

Anyway, this potential deal is very much on the table.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/19/worl ... l-uae.html

Corsair1963 · by **Corsair1963** » 20 Aug 2020, 03:11

talkitron wrote:Here is a pretty extensive New York Times article about the potential F-35 sales to the UAE. Trump is very much behind this but the Israeli government and some in Congress, which has an approval role, are not fans. Biden may not be a fan either but I wonder if he would cancel a deal that has been signed?

Anyway, this potential deal is very much on the table.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/08/19/worl ... l-uae.html

Honestly, this is really all about nothing. As the US likely will sell the F-35 at some point to a number of Gulf States. While, the only question was when....Which, most believe was sometime off.

This is nothing new.....

mixelflick · by **mixelflick** » 21 Aug 2020, 17:30

Not happening for a good decade or more. Possibly never given a new US president not as interested as selling US military hardware as Trump. Even if UAE got F-35's though, I'm sure they'd get beaten like a pinata by the Israeli's. Their pilots are just too good, and their F-35 E/W and weapons modifications too powerful..