US Clears More Fighter Sales to Gulf

Fighter Jet Sales to Gulf Allies Backed by U.S. After a Wait (excerpt)

WASHINGTON --- The U.S. has approved the long-stalled sale of fighter jets by Boeing Co. and Lockheed Martin Corp. to Persian Gulf allies in deals valued at as much as $20 billion, according to people familiar with the decision.

The sales to Bahrain, Qatar and Kuwait can go ahead unless they are rejected by the U.S. Congress. An “informal notification” sent to the House and Senate foreign affairs committees Wednesday begins an initial review that could last as long as 40 days, according to the officials, who asked not to be identified in advance of a formal announcement that will come later. That notice will trigger an official 30-day review.

The aircraft sales will deliver on pledges by President Barack Obama and the Pentagon to bolster the weaponry of Sunni-led nations in the Middle East. Those allies were left angry and uneasy after the U.S. agreed to a deal with their regional rival, Shiite-led Iran, to ease international economic sanctions in exchange for curbs on its nuclear program.

The notification to Congress says the potential sales include as many as 72 Boeing F-15 jets to Qatar and as many as 32 of the Chicago-based company’s F/A-18 E/F fighters to Kuwait, according to one of the people. Lockheed, based in Bethesda, Maryland, would be able to sell as many as 19 of its F-16s to Bahrain.

Parts, Munitions

Qatar lodged its proposal in July 2013, and Kuwait made its request in April 2015. Bahrain’s is more recent.

The aircraft sales could be valued at as much as $12 billion for the planes, and $20 billion if spare parts, logistical support and munitions are included, according to Richard Aboulafia, an aerospace analyst for the Teal Group in Fairfax, Virginia. (end of excerpt)

Click here for the full story, on the Bloomberg News website.

(EDITOR’S NOTE: If they finally go through, these sales will extend the life of all three US older fighter programs, which are due to close in around 2018 in the absence of new orders.
It should be noted that the official notifications to Congress have not yet been submitted.)

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