Senate rejects attempt to stymie UAE F-35 deal
Potential stumbling block to multibillion-dollar arms package is avoided
An attempt to block the $23 billion sale of F-35A fighter aircraft and MQ-9B Reaper UAVs to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) failed in the Senate on 9 December.
Senators voted 49-47 to reject a bill proposed by Democrat Senator Bob Menendez to prevent the F-35A deal. Another proposal to ban the export of Reapers to the UAE also failed, by 50-46.
The UAE has therefore passed a major hurdle in the way of it becoming the first Arab country to operate the F-35 and the second Middle Eastern country to do so after Israel.
In all, the UAE expects to buy up to 50 F-35s for $10.4 billion, 18 Reapers for $2.97 billion and various air-to-air and air-to-ground munitions for $10 billion.
The UAE and the DSCA still need to agree and sign Letters of Offers and Acceptance in order to formally conclude the deal.
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