UAE Submits Request to Buy F-35s, Israel Asks They Be Downgraded

UAE Submits Request to Buy F-35s from U.S. After Israel Deal (excerpt)

(Source: Bloomberg News; published Sept. 25, 2020)

By Anthony Capaccio

The United Arab Emirates has submitted a formal request to purchase next-generation F-35 jets from the U.S. after the signing of a diplomatic agreement with Israel this month, according to a U.S. official familiar with the issue.

The request to the State Department is the first step in a potentially long process to secure the stealthy Lockheed Martin Corp. fighters, the most advanced U.S.-built aircraft. The official didn’t say how many planes the Middle East nation is seeking.

The potential purchase of the F-35s generated some criticism in Israel as the U.S.-brokered agreement between Israel and the UAE neared last week. Under American law, Israel is guaranteed weapons needed to maintain its “qualitative military edge” over Arab nations.

U.S. officials have said they can provide that assurance regardless of F-35 sales without specifying publicly what they would offer Israel. (end of excerpt)

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

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Israel Seeks US to 'Downgrade' F-35 Jets to be Sold to UAE: report (excerpt)

(Source: i24News; posted Sept. 26, 2020)

Israeli officials have largely abandoned the hope to dissuade Washington from selling advanced F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates, Israel's Channel 12 reported Saturday.

The report, which does not mention any sources, said that the Jewish state was now hoping to get the US to sell "downgraded" versions of the stealth aircraft to the UAE.

It added that as several more regional states were expected to normalize ties with Israel in the near future, Jerusalem expected them to be followed up by more arms sales deals from the United States.

Israel has long opposed the sales of F-35 to the states in its vicinity, fearing those could erode its qualitative military edge (QME). (end of excerpt)

Click here for the full story, on the i24News website.

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