The State Department has approved the United Arab Emirates’ two foreign military sales requests totaling $1.45 billion to procure CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters and F-16 fighter aircraft sustainment support.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency said Monday it has notified Congress of the proposed FMS agreements.
CH-47F Block II Chinook Procurement
The UAE government requested to buy six CH-47F Block II Chinook helicopters with extended range fuel tanks and air-to-air refuel probe capability under a potential $1.32 billion FMS deal.
Boeing and Honeywell will serve as principal contractors in the proposed transaction, enabling the UAE to improve its capability to extend its range of flight operations to counter existing and future threats. The country will also use the assets to support search and rescue, humanitarian support, disaster relief and counterterrorism operations.
The request also includes the procurement of T-55-GA-714A engines, Embedded GPS/Inertial Navigation System devices with M-Code; AN/AAR-57 Common Missile Warning Systems; AN/ARC-231A communications security radios; M-240 machine guns; and related equipment and support services.
The proposed transaction will require the deployment of two U.S. government and eight contractor representatives to UAE for up to five years to support equipment deprocessing, training, fielding, system checkout and technical logistics operations.
F-16 Sustainment
To support F-15 jet sustainment efforts, the UAE also asked the U.S. government to purchase additional fighter aircraft components, spares and accessories under a $130 million FMS deal.
The proposed transaction will enable the Middle Eastern country to meet its national defense requirements by defending its territorial integrity and sovereignty.
The FMS deal also covers night vision device support and spare equipment; munitions support equipment; software delivery; classified and unclassified publications and technical documentation; studies and surveys; U.S. government and contractor engineering; program support; logistics; and transportation support.