United Arab Emirates (UAE) is mulling to suspend discussions over the procurement of 50 F-35 fighter jets that are part of the $23 billion arms deal with the US, according to media reports.

An unnamed official from UAE told Reuters that the US has been apprised of the middle eastern country’s concern over technical issues such as cost-benefit analysis and restrictive end-user agreement.

“Technical requirements, sovereign operational restrictions, and cost/benefit analysis led to the re-assessment,” the UAE official said.

The UAE had signed an agreement to purchase 50 5th generation fighter jets and up to 18 armed drones, and other advanced munitions.

“The US remains the UAE’s preferred provider for advanced defence requirements and discussions for the F-35 may be re-opened in the future,” the official said, adding there were discussions to “address mutual defence security conditions for the acquisition.”

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However, US State secretary Anthony Blinken on Wednesday said that America is prepared to move forward with the sale of the fighter jets and drones to the its ally.

Speaking at a news conference in Kuala Lumpur, Blinken said Washington had to conduct some reviews.

"We've wanted to make sure, for example, that our commitment to Israel`s qualitative military edge is assured, so we wanted to make sure that we could do a thorough review of any technologies that are sold or transferred to other partners in the region, including the UAE," Blinken said.

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"But I think we continue to be prepared to move forward if the UAE continues to want to pursue both of these," he said.

The sale of 50 F-35 jets comes as a part of a $23 billion arms deal that the US and the UAE reached in the last days of Trump’s administration. The agreement also involves a sale of 18 MQ-9B Reaper attack drones, as well as other high-tech munitions.

(With inputs from agencies)

United Arab Emirates (UAE) is mulling to suspend discussions over the procurement of 50 F-35 fighter jets that are part of the $23 billion arms deal with the US, according to media reports.

United Arab Emirates (UAE) is mulling to suspend discussions over the procurement of 50 F-35 fighter jets that are part of the $23 billion arms deal with the US, according to media reports. An unnamed official from UAE told Reuters that the US has been apprised of the middle eastern country’s concern over technical issues such as cost-benefit analysis and restrictive end-user agreement. “Technical requirements, sovereign operational restrictions, and cost/benefit analysis led to the re-assessment,” the UAE official said. The UAE had signed an agreement to purchase 50 5th generation fighter jets and up to 18 armed drones, and other advanced munitions. “The US remains the UAE’s preferred provider for advanced defence requirements and discussions for the F-35 may be re-opened in the future,” the official said, adding there were discussions to “address mutual defence security conditions for the acquisition.” Also read | India in a tough neighbourhood, will help secure its borders, says Biden’s envoy pick Garcetti However, US State secretary Anthony Blinken on Wednesday said that America is prepared to move forward with the sale of the fighter jets and drones to the its ally. Speaking at a news conference in Kuala Lumpur, Blinken said Washington had to conduct some reviews. "We've wanted to make sure, for example, that our commitment to Israel`s qualitative military edge is assured, so we wanted to make sure that we could do a thorough review of any technologies that are sold or transferred to other partners in the region, including the UAE," Blinken said. Also read | US women urge Supreme Court to repeal topless sunbathing ban as it permits discrimination "But I think we continue to be prepared to move forward if the UAE continues to want to pursue both of these," he said. The sale of 50 F-35 jets comes as a part of a $23 billion arms deal that the US and the UAE reached in the last days of Trump’s administration. The agreement also involves a sale of 18 MQ-9B Reaper attack drones, as well as other high-tech munitions. (With inputs from agencies)

UAE mulling to scrap talks on 50 F-35 fighter jets deal with US: Report

The U.S. State Department gave Congress notification it plans to sell 18 sophisticated armed MQ-9B aerial drones to the United Arab Emirates in a deal worth as much as $2.9 billion, people briefed on the notification said.

The move comes on the heels of last week`s notification of a potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to the middle-eastern country.

This would mark the first armed drone export since the Trump administration reinterpreted a Cold War-era arms agreement between 34 nations to allow U.S. defense contractors to sell more drones to allies.

Reuters has reported that UAE has long shown interest in purchasing drones from the United States and would be among the first customers in line after U.S. export policy changed this summer. A $600 million deal to sell four unarmed but weapons-ready MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones to Taiwan was the first to be formally notified to Congress on Tuesday.

This informal notification for the Reaper-style drones is the precursor to the State Department`s formal and public notification.

The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and House of Representatives Foreign Affairs committees - whose members have criticized UAE`s role in civilian deaths in Yemen`s civil war - have the ability to review and block weapons sales under an informal review process before the State Department sends its formal notification to the legislative branch.

The U.S. State Department may wait to formally notify Congress of the sale once staff and members are briefed on the potential sale, one of the people said. The formal notification gives Congress 30 days to object to any sales.

A U.S. State Department spokesman told Reuters, "As a matter of policy, the United States does not confirm or comment on proposed defense sales or transfers until they are formally notified to Congress."

The armed MQ-9B drones will also be equipped with maritime radar and could be delivered in 2024. The package notified to Congress is for 15 with an option for three additional drones, one of the people said.

The UAE is also seeking a package of Boeing Co&nbsp;EA-18G Growlers, an electronic warfare version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft, that are capable of jamming radar and other advanced capabilities. Growlers are operated buy the U.S. and Australia.

The United Arab Emirates, one of Washington`s closest Middle East allies, has long expressed interest in acquiring the stealthy F-35 jets and was promised a chance to buy them in a side deal made when they agreed to normalize relations with Israel. The informal notification for 50 Lockheed Martin Co&nbsp;F-35 jets was made on Oct. 29.

But any deal the U.S. makes to sell weapons in the region must satisfy decades of agreement with Israel where the U.S.-made weapon must not impair Israel`s "qualitative military edge," guaranteeing U.S. weapons furnished to Israel are "superior in capability" to those sold to its neighbors.

The U.S. State Department gave Congress notification it plans to sell 18 sophisticated armed MQ-9B aerial drones to the United Arab Emirates in a deal worth as much as $2.

The U.S. State Department gave Congress notification it plans to sell 18 sophisticated armed MQ-9B aerial drones to the United Arab Emirates in a deal worth as much as $2.9 billion, people briefed on the notification said. The move comes on the heels of last week`s notification of a potential sale of F-35 fighter jets to the middle-eastern country. This would mark the first armed drone export since the Trump administration reinterpreted a Cold War-era arms agreement between 34 nations to allow U.S. defense contractors to sell more drones to allies. Reuters has reported that UAE has long shown interest in purchasing drones from the United States and would be among the first customers in line after U.S. export policy changed this summer. A $600 million deal to sell four unarmed but weapons-ready MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones to Taiwan was the first to be formally notified to Congress on Tuesday. This informal notification for the Reaper-style drones is the precursor to the State Department`s formal and public notification. The U.S. Senate Foreign Relations and House of Representatives Foreign Affairs committees - whose members have criticized UAE`s role in civilian deaths in Yemen`s civil war - have the ability to review and block weapons sales under an informal review process before the State Department sends its formal notification to the legislative branch. The U.S. State Department may wait to formally notify Congress of the sale once staff and members are briefed on the potential sale, one of the people said. The formal notification gives Congress 30 days to object to any sales. A U.S. State Department spokesman told Reuters, "As a matter of policy, the United States does not confirm or comment on proposed defense sales or transfers until they are formally notified to Congress." The armed MQ-9B drones will also be equipped with maritime radar and could be delivered in 2024. The package notified to Congress is for 15 with an option for three additional drones, one of the people said. The UAE is also seeking a package of Boeing Co EA-18G Growlers, an electronic warfare version of the two-seat F/A-18F Super Hornet aircraft, that are capable of jamming radar and other advanced capabilities. Growlers are operated buy the U.S. and Australia. The United Arab Emirates, one of Washington`s closest Middle East allies, has long expressed interest in acquiring the stealthy F-35 jets and was promised a chance to buy them in a side deal made when they agreed to normalize relations with Israel. The informal notification for 50 Lockheed Martin Co F-35 jets was made on Oct. 29. But any deal the U.S. makes to sell weapons in the region must satisfy decades of agreement with Israel where the U.S.-made weapon must not impair Israel`s "qualitative military edge," guaranteeing U.S. weapons furnished to Israel are "superior in capability" to those sold to its neighbors.

Trump administration advances $2.9 billion drone sale to UAE

The US state department has notified Congress that it intends to sell 50 F35 fighter jets to the United Arab Emirates, after Israel agreed last week to drop its objections.

US moves ahead with sale of 50 F-35 fighter jets to the UAE

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UAE mulling to scrap talks on 50 F-35 fighter jets deal with US: Report

Trump administration advances $2.9 billion drone sale to UAE

US moves ahead with sale of 50 F-35 fighter jets to the UAE