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DUBAI, Nov 10 (Reuters) - The United States is in talks
to sell F-35 fighter jets to partner nations, a senior U.S. military official
said on Friday during a visit to the United Arab Emirates, without giving
details.
U.S. Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Stephen Wilson was
responding to a reporter's question about the possibility of selling advanced
jets to the UAE.
"Specifically with the F-35s, we look at all of our
partners and nations and allies and their requirements and here in the Gulf
they share many of the same adversaries and challenges," Wilson said.
"So we look to provide capabilities. So discussion
is ongoing now with the new administration on selling F-35s to partner nations
that need them, that require them."
He added, "They've started the process. Now with
that you need discussion bilaterally between nations ... so further things on
that will have to come from the UAE."
The F-35 is made by Lockheed Martin Corp, with companies
including Northrop Grumman Corp, United Technologies Corp's Pratt & Whitney
and BAE Systems Plc also involved. (Reporting by Noah Browning; Writing by
Andrew Torchia; Editing by Susan Fenton and Edmund Blair)
Original post: cnbc.com
In February, Abu Dhabi signed a memorandum of
understanding with Russia to develop a fifth-generation fighter jet,
potentially hindering any F-35 sale. However, Wilson declines to comment on the
issue.
Operating a mixed inventory of American and Russian
fighters is not unprecedented, although the fleets do not often include stealth
aircraft. Malaysia flies both Boeing F/A-18s and Sukhoi Su-30s; Egypt operates
F-16s and MiG-21s; and Pakistan uses F-16s and Chinese-built JF-17s.
Israeli objections could also quash any potential sale of
the F-35 to the UAE. But even a sale to an adversary in the Gulf may not erode
Tel Aviv's qualitative military edge, since deliveries would not begin in the
near term.
The Israeli air force received its initial batch of Joint
Strike Fighters earlier this year and deliveries of all 50 aircraft are
expected to be complete in 2027. Source: flightglobal.com
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