The United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy Page: 23 of 32
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The United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy
* Since 2000, the UAE has hosted a "Joint Air Warfare Center" (AWC) where
UAE and U.S. forces conduct joint exercises on early warning, air and missile
defense, and logistics.51 Since 2009, UAE Air Force personnel have participated
in yearly Desert Falcon exercises at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.52
U.S. and Other Arms Sales
U.S. officials assert that arms sales to the UAE enhance U.S. security by building up indigenous
GCC capabilities and promoting interoperability. UAE representatives assert that the country
would like to work out a mechanism with the United States under which requests for munitions
and arms purchases could receive expedited U.S. consideration. Some options might include
designating the UAE as a "Major Non-NATO Ally" (MNNA), or a mechanism UAE officials say
they prefer: legislation that would declare the UAE a key U.S. defense partner.53 Two Gulf
states-Kuwait and Bahrain-are designated as MNNAs. Some defense sales to the UAE might
be contingent on the UAE's joining the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), which
UAE officials say they are considering trying to do.54 The UAE does not receive U.S. aid to
purchase U.S. weaponry. Among major FMS programs with or potential sales to the UAE
" F-16 Program. In 2000, the UAE purchased 80 U.S. F-16 aircraft, equipped with
the Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missile (AMRAAM) and the High
Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM), at a value of about $8 billion. Congress
did not block the sale, although some Members questioned the AMRAAM as an
introduction of the weapon into the Gulf. In November 2017, Lockheed Martin
and the UAE agreed to a $1.6 billion upgrade to its original 80 F-16s. In April
2013, the United States sold the UAE an additional 30 F-16s and associated
"standoff' air-to-ground munitions, in conjunction with similar weapons sales to
Israel and Saudi Arabia, which U.S. officials indicated were intended to signal
resolve to Iran.55 The UAE also has about 60 French-made Mirage 2000
warplanes, and is reportedly considering buying French-made Rafales and the
Boeing F/A-18.
" F-35 Joint Strike Fighter. UAE officials say the country wants to buy the
advanced F-35 "Joint Strike Fighter," asserting that possessing the most
sophisticated U.S. aircraft enhances interoperability with U.S. air operations.
Even though Israel and the UAE are aligned on many regional policies, U.S.
officials have said that the United States would not sell the aircraft to the UAE
before Israel receives the weapon; delivery to Israel is expected to begin in late
2016. That apparently is an effort to enforce U.S. law that requires maintaining
Israel's "Qualitative Military Edge" (QME) in the region. However, it was
reported in November 2017 that the Trump Administration has agreed to consider
a UAE request to enter into preliminary talks on future UAE procurement of the
F-35.56 No decision on whether such talks will begin has been announced.
51 Rajiv Chandresekaran. "A Quiet, Potent Ally to U.S." Washington Post, November 9, 2014.
52 "A Quiet, Potent Ally to U.S." op. cit.
53 Author conversations with UAE representatives, 2016.
5 Ibid.
5 Thom Shanker. "Arms Deal with Israel and 2 Arab Nations Is Near." New York Times, April 19, 2013.
56 Barbara Opall. "Trump Could Let the UAE Buy F-35 Jets." Defense News, November 6, 2017.Congressional Research Service 19
Congressional Research Service
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Katzman, Kenneth. The United Arab Emirates (UAE): Issues for U.S. Policy, report, June 22, 2018; Washington D.C.. (https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc1213128/m1/23/: accessed April 19, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, UNT Digital Library, https://digital.library.unt.edu; crediting UNT Libraries Government Documents Department.