US mounts pressure on Iran with MQ-9B and F-35 UAE push
The US government looks increasingly likely to agree new arms sales with the UAE, including deals for the MQ-9B Reaper and F-35 fifth generation fighter jet.
Despite being accused by human rights organisations and national media of war crimes in Libya and Yemen, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) looks to be on course for the acquisition of F-35 fighter jets and MQ-9B Reaper UAVs.
Reports of the US preparing for the fifth-generation aircraft sale first surfaced in August, followed by 6 November stories linking the UAE to an 18 MQ-9B fleet deal, though neither have been confirmed as FMS cases by the US State Department – the body responsible for initially approving such deals.
Arms sales to the UAE are not without controversy because of
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