Emarat & Kuwait to Aquire American Missiles & Munitions

SaudiArabian

New Member
United Arab Emirates - Various Munitions and Weapon Systems

WASHINGTON, January 3, 2008 – On December 19, the Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to the United Arab Emirates of various munitions and weapon systems as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $326 million.

The Government of the United Arab Emirates has requested a possible sale of 224 AIM-120C-7 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) Air Intercept Missiles, 200 GBU-31 Guided Bomb Unit (GBU) Joint Direct Attack Munition tail kits, 224 MK-84 2,000 pound General-Purpose Bombs (GPB), 450 GBU-24 PAVEWAY III with MK-84 2,000 pound GPB, 488 GBU-12 PAVEWAY II with MK-82 500 pound GPB, 1 M61A 20mm Vulcan Cannon with Ammunition Handling System, containers, bomb components, spare/repair parts, publications, documentation, personnel training, training equipment, contractor technical and logistics personnel services, and other related support elements. The estimated cost is $326 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. This proposed sale supports the prior sale of the Block 60 F-16s to the UAE.

The proposed sale of the weapons will strengthen the effectiveness and interoperability of a potential coalition partner, reduce the dependence on U.S. forces in the region and enhance any coalition operations the U.S. may undertake. The United Arab Emirates will have no difficulty absorbing these additional munitions into its armed forces. The proposed sale of these weapon systems will not affect the basic military balance in the region.

The principal contractors are the Raytheon Corporation in Waltham, Massachusetts; Boeing Corporation in St Louis, Missouri; and McAlester Army Ammunition Plant in McAlester, Oklahoma. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.

Several U.S. Air Force pilots and maintenance Extended Training Service Specialists already in the United Arab Emirates are expected to remain for the next five years and will be able to support this potential sale.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law; it does not mean that the sale has been concluded.



Kuwait - TOW-2A/B Radio Frequency Missiles

WASHINGTON, January 3, 2008 – The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Kuwait of TOW-2A/B Radio Frequency Missiles as well as associated equipment and services. The total value, if all options are exercised, could be as high as $328 million.

The Government of Kuwait has requested a possible sale of 2,106 TOW-2A Radio Frequency missiles, 21 Buy-to-Fly missiles, 1,404 TOW-2B Radio Frequency missiles, 14 Buy-to-Fly missiles, containers, spare and repair parts, supply support, publications and technical data, U.S. Government and contractor technical and logistics personnel services, and other related elements of program support. The estimated cost is $328 million.

This proposed sale will contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a Major Non-NATO ally which has been, and continues to be, an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East. Additionally, the proposed sale will demonstrate the U.S. Government’s commitment to our bilateral relationship.

The proposed sale of additional TOW-2 missiles will fill an urgent requirement to enhance the reliability of Kuwait’s TOW missile stock as its stocks of existing TOW missiles are nearing the end of their shelf life. The additional Buy-to-Fly missiles will be purchased for test purposes. Kuwait, which already has TOW-2 missiles in its inventory, will have no difficulty absorbing these additional missiles.

The proposed sale of this equipment and support will not affect the basic military balance in the region.
The prime contractor will be the Raytheon Corporation of Tucson, Arizona. There are no known offset agreements proposed in connection with this potential sale.
Implementation of this proposed sale will not require the assignment of any additional U.S. Government or contractor representatives to Kuwait.
There will be no adverse impact on U.S. defense readiness as a result of this proposed sale.
This notice of a potential sale is required by law; it does not mean that the sale has been concluded.

DSCA
http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2007/UAE_08-01.pdf
http://www.dsca.mil/PressReleases/36-b/2008/Kuwait_08-22.pdf
 

Khairul Alam

New Member
Wowwow! First i come across the news that UAE is buying A330 tankers, and now i see they even plan to buy hundreds of bombs and missiles.I get this weird feeling that UAE is gearing up for a possible confrontation. Lets not forget that UAE only recently bought a decent stock of bombs and missiles along with its F-16 jets.
Some might say these Gulf countries are almost always on a defense spending spree. But these purchases just not seem defensive in nature, mainly because UAE doesnt have a need for them in the near future...unless they have other things in mind ;)
 

Sea Toby

New Member
Many weapons have shelf lives. That is why most countries buy a bit of weapons every year to keep their weapons up to date. While $300 million is a lot of money to you and me, its mere chump change for many nations. Some spend billions, a few spend hundreds of billions.

And who are you to say what they think their threat is? I am sure they have their experts, and most likely listened to them. This appears mostly to be an extension of the F-16 order. Why buy F-16s and not arm them?
 
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