F-35A fighter jet |
Militarymedia.net - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is likely to acquire 50 F-35A stealth fighter jets from the United States worth 10.4 billion US dollars. This is in line with the issuance of support from the US Department of State. Furthermore, the endorsement will be carried out by the US Congress.
The official announcement has not yet been made by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA). But word has spread that informally the Donald Trump administration has informed Congress of the planned F-35 sale to the UAE on October 29, 2020.
If sales are permitted by Congress and the UAE chooses to buy the entire F-35A variant, the UAE will have the F-35 with the same number and variants as Israel, namely 50 F-35A. In Israel, the F-35A Lightning II changed its name to F-35I Adir.
This also raises concerns for the main Democratic Party MPs about the security of Israel and the security of sensitive technology on board.
"This technology will significantly change the military balance in the Gulf and influence Israel's military superiority," said the Chairman of the US Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee, Eliot Engel, DN.Y. in a statement.
In addition, the F-35 is a stealth aircraft that can change the power map with its sophisticated technology and sensors. Exporting these aircraft, he said, required careful consideration and Congress had to analyze all the consequences.
"Hurrying up this sale is not in anyone's interest," said Engel who also questioned whether the F-35 sale to the UAE would also stimulate similar interest from countries in the Middle East to own the aircraft.
It stressed that the planned sale of the F-35A to the UAE would not undermine Israel's qualitative military advantage.
"This technology must also be protected from our biggest global enemy. With Russia and China active in the region, the American people will need an undeniable guarantee that our most advanced military capabilities will be protected, "he concluded.
As is well known, in line with the normalization of relations between Israel and the UAE initiated by President Donald Trump in September 2020, the UAE asked the US to grant the wish to have the F-35.
However, on the other hand, Tel Aviv, which initially raised objections to the sales plan, then asked Washington for a number of compensation and guarantees.