F-35 UAE 2017

A high level estimate of the prices show the UAE is either paying 2-3 times the price for the munitions or there are other items not listed. The F-35A pricing is about there. The MQ-9B is also on the high side. 515 Hellfires is only ~$50-$200m leaving the rest to mean $150m per reaper.

It sure looks like they're building up the UAE as a possible buffer to Iran. For a long time now, that was the Saudi's role IMO. A coalition of the US, Israel, UAE and SA (and possibly Quatar) would really be something.

I get a bad vibe out of Egypt though, given all of the Russian equipment they're buying. A Russia, Iran and Egypt coalition would be quite the powerhouse. I wonder.... if Washington is concerned too with Egypt, and thus this armament package for the UAE?

UAE Cleared to Buy F-35As and MQ-9Bs
11 Nov 2020 David Donald

"On November 10 the U.S. State Department approved three possible Foreign Military Sales to the United Arab Emirates. The three packages, potentially worth in excess of $23 billion, cover the sale of Lockheed Martin F-35s, which the UAE has sought for some time, and the acquisition of the General Atomics MQ-9B SkyGuardians. The third approval is for a huge package of fighter weapons.

The $10.4 billion F-35 purchase covers up to 50 F-35A conventional takeoff/landing aircraft, complete with Pratt & Whitney F135 engines and four spare powerplants. Related equipment includes electronic warfare, command and control, and computer/navigation suites. Training and logistics support is covered, as is delivery, including the provision of aerial tanker support....

... the deal includes 515 AGM-114R Hellfire missiles, with tail kits and Paveway II guidance kits that can turn 250-pound and 500-pound general-purpose bombs into laser-guided precision weapons....

...Covered by the third approval, the UAE plans to buy a large package of air-launched weaponry potentially worth $10 billion. On the shopping list are AIM-120C8 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles, GBU-39 Small Diameter Bombs, AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles (AARGMs), AGM-154C Joint Stand-Off Weapon (JSOW) missiles, and the extended-range AGM-154E JSOW-ER derivative. Large numbers of Mk 82 (250-pound), Mk 83 (1,000-pound), and Mk 84 (2,000-pound) bomb warheads are included, along with the tailkits and fuzes necessary to modify them into Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) GPS-guided bombs...."

Source: https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news ... and-mq-9bs

The Clock is Ticking On F-35, Drone Sale to UAE
11 Nov 2020 Marcus Weisgerber

"Lame-duck approval of sale could allow UAE to sign contract for weapons before Biden takes office. The clock is ticking on the Trump administration’s push to sell F-35 fighter jets, armed Reaper drones, and a bevy of bombs and missiles to the United Arab Emirates. The State Department notified Congress Tuesday that it had approved the $23.4 billion sale. Lawmakers now have 30 days to object. But there’s little chance of stopping the deal, experts said....

...While the Trump administration approved the sales, contracts for the weapons have not been finalized. UAE could sign contracts as soon as soon as Dec. 10, when the clock runs out on the congressional review process. It’s rare for Congress to outright block an arms deal, but it can slow them.

EA-18G Growler electronic attack jets were reportedly also part of the arms package being offered to UAE, but the warplanes were not included in Tuesday's announcement...." [ https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/03/us/p ... apons.html ]

Source: https://www.defenseone.com/business/202 ... ae/169951/

Was just looking at the federal register on the UAE arms sale and this caught my eye:

https://www.congress.gov/116/crec/2020/11/10/CREC-2020-11-10-pt1-PgS6646.pdf

The AGM–154E JSOW–ER adds an engine, and supporting components, to the
JSOW C Airframe. The JSOW–ER uses the 300-pound Maverick Warhead due to its
smaller size, thereby creating room for fuel, but maintains the same penetration
capability as the JSOW C.

My emphasis. They are abandoning a BROACH variant.

From Defense Industry Daily:

The US State Department cleared sales of F-35 fighter jets and MQ-9 unmanned systems for the United Arab Emirates, making official a potential sale still opposed by many congressional Democrats. The DoS formally approved a potential $23.4 billion arms sale to the United Arab Emirates, including up to 50 F-35s, 18 MQ-9s, and both air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions. In a statement, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced the massive arms sale package, which includes up to 50 F-35 jets worth $10.4 billion, 18 MQ-9B drones worth $2.97 billion, and $10 billion of munitions. “The proposed sale will make the UAE even more capable and interoperable with US partners in a manner fully consistent with America’s longstanding commitment to ensuring Israel’s Qualitative Military Edge,” said the statement.

Consider what kind of target set the UAE is looking at with the JSOW-ER. Its enough range to target most of Iran from gulf waters or within UAE airspace. WDU-24 isn't big enough to bring down buildings.

I'm guessing ballistic missile launchers. Also includes Houthi ones in Yemen so not just Iran.

Consider what kind of target set the UAE is looking at with the JSOW-ER. Its enough range to target most of Iran from gulf waters or within UAE airspace. WDU-24 isn't big enough to bring down buildings.

I'm guessing ballistic missile launchers. Also includes Houthi ones in Yemen so not just Iran.

That makes sense.

The BROACH data I have for JSOW-C/C-1 is 4 - 5 feet of penetration in 2000 psi concrete.

Given the typical penetration scaling for harder concretes, that's still more than enough to
deny the use of highway overpasses as cover for TELs.

MORE on POLITICS of SALE: https://breakingdefense.com/2020/11/f-3 ... ver-libya/

In F-35 sale to UAE, Senate seeks State Dept. guarantee for US technology and Israel
13 Nov 2020 Joe Gould

"WASHINGTON ― Senate appropriators are calling on the State Department to certify that a pending sale of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters to the United Arab Emirates would not threaten Israel’s military edge or make U.S. military systems vulnerable to Russia and China. The bipartisan legislation, introduced Nov. 10 by the GOP-led Senate Appropriations Committee, represents another potential hurdle for the U.S. sale...

...The provision from Senate appropriators reads: "Prior to the sale of the F–35 joint strike fighter to the UAE, the Secretary of State, in consultation with heads of relevant Federal agencies, shall certify and report to the Committee that such sale: (1) does not diminish Israel’s qualitative military edge; and (2) poses no vulnerabilities to U.S. military to U.S. military systems and technology vis-a`-vis the Russian Federation and [People’s Republic of China].

To avoid a government shutdown, Washington has to come together and pass a budget deal before stopgap spending legislation expires Dec. 11 or pass another funding patch.

The F-35 deal follows the signing of the Abraham Accords, a normalization agreement between Israel, the United Arab Emirates and the U.S. Pompeo, in his announcement of the F-35 deal, said it recognized UAE’s need to defend itself from Iran and that it was consistent with America’s commitment to ensuring Israel’s “qualitative military edge” ― a U.S. legal standard that Israel maintain a military technological advantage over its neighbors.

Though arms sales are subject to congressional holds by tradition, the Trump administration could move aggressively on the sale, and then, if lawmakers objected, they could introduce a joint resolution of disapproval to block the sale."

Source: https://www.defensenews.com/congress/20 ... nd-israel/

Lawmakers introduce resolutions to block Trump’s F-35 sale to UAE
18 Nov 2020 Joe Gould

"WASHINGTON ― A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced new legislation Wednesday that would halt the Trump administration’s push to circumvent Congress and expedite a $23 billion sale of F-35 fighter jets, Reaper drones and munitions to the United Arab Emirates.

A series of resolutions were announced after lawmakers said they failed to get satisfactory answers from State Department officials over plans to sell the sophisticated weapons. Lawmakers say the administration’s rush to complete the sale is ignoring risks to sensitive military technology posed by UAE’s ties to Russia and China ― and to Israel’s military edge in the Middle East...."

Source: https://www.defensenews.com/congress/20 ... le-to-uae/

UAE / F-35 deal very likely to go through....Plus, not like US hasn't sold them highly classified weapons and technology before. Plus, even Israel as signed off on it.

Why UAE F-35 deal makes sense to Washington - and Israel
20 Nov 2020 Flight International

"...In what now looks set to be a final flurry of defence sale approvals before the Trump administration makes way for US President-elect Joe Biden in January, Washington had just weeks before drawn China’s ire by backing the sale of new F-16s and General Atomics Aeronautical Systems MQ-9B unmanned air vehicles to Taiwan.

But what directly advanced the prospect of 50 F-35As and related weapons, plus 18 armed MQ-9Bs boosting the UAE’s military capability, was its recent normalisation of relations with Israel. Brokered via the USA, this development has already seen the commencement of direct commercial flights between the nations.

The strengthening of another US ally in the Middle East region is seen as good news for pretty much everyone but Iran. As Washington turns its attention to preparing for potential future conflicts withChina and Russia, arming its friends elsewhere with the best equipment it can offer spares its assets for the bigger battles to come. Job creation at home is a further bonus.

With stealthy F-35As, plus its Saab GlobalEye surveillance aircraft, the UAE will have a highly capable air force fleet – more than able to address the threat posed by Iran’s military.

As for Israel, its air force now operates 23 F-35I Adirs from a planned 50-strong fleet of the type. The Israeli air force already operates 23 F-35I Adir fighters

While it already has this technological head start on the UAE, it also retains a unique status in being able to update the aircraft with its own systems. As such, it won’t be getting outmanoeuvred by its neighbours any time soon."

Source: https://www.flightglobal.com/flight-int ... 87.article

Senate to vote on banning $23 billion UAE arms sales next week
03 Dec 2020 Joe Gould

"WASHINGTON ― The Senate will vote next week on legislation to halt the Trump administration’s $23 billion sale of F-35 fighter jets, Reaper drones and munitions to the United Arab Emirates, a lawmaker said Thursday.

Four pending joint resolutions of disapproval offer lawmakers a chance to block the Trump administration’s 11th hour proposal to transfer arms to the Emirates. Critics say the sales, meant to bolster the UAE against Iran, ignores risks to Israel and to sensitive military technology posed by UAE’s ties to Russia and China....

...In the House, Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., introduced corresponding resolutions, but there’s been no announcement on the timing there...."

Source: https://www.defensenews.com/congress/20 ... arms-sale/

the Trump administration’s 11th hour proposal to transfer arms to the Emirates.

For a package based on a letter of request that dates back to Obama.

UAE F-35 Sale ‘Possible’ Before Biden’s Sworn In, Trump Official Says; US Sold $175B In Arms
04 Dec 2020 Paul McLeary

"I get asked if it's possible, absolutely it’s possible," Heidi Grant, director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, told reporters at the Pentagon Friday. But some in Congress are working to block the deal.

"WASHINGTON: Trump administration officials believe they can wrap up the recent proposed sale of F-35s to the UAE before President-elect Joe Biden is sworn in on Jan. 20.

“I get asked if it’s possible; absolutely it’s possible,” Heidi Grant, director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, told reporters at the Pentagon Friday. “But, you know, we don’t control it. We’re waiting on the Congress benchmark. Then we’re gonna wait once we offer it for the Emiratis it’s up to them as far as timelines, but it’s possible.”...

...Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu secretly approved the F-35 sale as part of a normalization deal with UAE earlier this year, in exchange for the sale of more F-35s to Israel, access to highly classified systems on the F-35 that Israel can’t currently import, [what does this mean?] and potentially gaining Israel access to highly classified SBIRS satellites...." [and lots of lahdedah all been heard before above in recent posts about the 'to do' generated]

Source: https://breakingdefense.com/2020/12/uae ... b-in-arms/