The US State Department on Tuesday said it approved plans to sell 50 stealth F-35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates.
In a statement, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the package and highlighted the deep US-UAE ties.
“This is in recognition of our deepening relationship and the UAE’s need for advanced defense capabilities to deter and defend itself against heightened threats,” Pompeo said.
“The UAE’s historic agreement to normalize relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords offers a once-in-a-generation opportunity to positively transform the region’s strategic landscape," he added.
The deal comes with an estimated price tag of $23.37 billion, includes up to 50 F-35s worth $10.4 billion, 18 MQ-9Bs worth $2.97 billion, and $10 billion worth of air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions.
