Global Ordnance and Sparkz disclose plans for 500,000 US-made UAV batteries a year
The companies have outlined plans for US$25 million manufacturing lines and initial deliveries in 2027 as Washington tightens restrictions on Chinese UAV components.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE) has requested munitions and associated equipment, parts, training and logistical support from the US government under a possible foreign military sale (FMS) worth a total of $4 billion.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified US congress on 11 October of the request, which seeks the necessary munitions to support the UAE’s fleet of F-16 aircraft.
Specifically the UAE is seeking 5000 GBU-39/B Small Diameter Bombs (SDB) with BRU-61 carriage systems; 8 SDB Guided Test Vehicles for aircraft integration; 16 SDB Captive Flight and Load Build trainers; 1200 AGM-154C Joint Stand Off Weapon (JSOW); 10 JSOW CATMs; 300 AGM-84H Standoff Land Attack Missiles-Expanded Response (SLAM-ER); 40 CATM-84H Captive Air Training Missiles; 20 ATM-84H SLAM-ER Telemetry Missiles; 4 Dummy Air Training Missiles; and 30 AWW-13 Data Link pods.
Additional storage, training, mission planning, transportation, tools and test equipment has also been requested.
If the FMS goes ahead Boeing and Raytheon will be the principal contractors.
The companies have outlined plans for US$25 million manufacturing lines and initial deliveries in 2027 as Washington tightens restrictions on Chinese UAV components.
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