UAE may buy more F-16 Block 60 Desert Falcon

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BY PIERRE TRAN | PUBLISHED: 6 JUL 2011 13:17

PARIS - The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is now talking with Lockheed Martin about buyingmore F-16 fighter aircraft because France's offer of an advanced version of the Rafale combat jet is seen as too expensive, said a sourcefamiliar with the negotiations in the gulf.
"The UAE is finding the Rafaleoffer to be too costly compared to the capabilities of aircraft and other technologies on the market," the source said. "The negotiations with France are still ongoing and both sides are looking for a compromise."
The UAE has been seen as a potential first export buyer of the Dassault Rafale in a deal estimated at $10 billion. Meetings on the Rafale sale were held at the Paris Air Show, which ended June 26.
But price resistance has led UAE officials to open discussions with Lockheed Martin to buy more F-16s with the latest "weaponry and targeting sensors," the source said.
Last year, UAE officials askedfor technical information on the Boeing F/A-18 E/F Super Hornet, following a political chill at the highest levels between Abu Dhabi and Paris.
In negotiations with the French, the elements said to be stretching the UAE's planned budget are the co-development costs for a more powerful "special" Rafale version, plus maintenance and spare parts.The UAE wants its Rafales powered by uprated Snecma M88 engines, whose 9 tons of thrust provide 1.5 tons more than the version flown by the French Air Force. Other improvements requested include a longer range active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar and a more capable Spectra electronic warfare suite.
The upgrades previously have been estimated at 2 billion euros ($2.9 billion) by then-French Defense MinisterHerv¨¦ Morin.
Dassault Aviation declined to comment.
Shortly before the Paris Air Show, Dassault Chief Executive Charles Edelstenne said of the Rafaleoffer to the UAE, "the talks are advancing."
The gulf source said,"Lockheed Martin is offering a very attractive financial package."
A UAE sale might help Lockheed keep its F-16 assembly line open, after India rejected the U.S. fighter from its short list for the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft competition.
Lockheed officials were unable to comment by press time.
France badly needs export success on the Rafale, a showcase of military technological competence, as the national defense budget assumes foreign contracts tohelp pay for a steady rate ofproduction.
Dassault has said it must build 11 Rafale units a year to keep the line working at an economic rate.
Large companies depending on the Rafale include Safran subsidiaries Sagem, for the forward looking infrared gear, Snecma for the twin engines, Thales for the electronics and RBE2 AESA radar, and MBDA, which hopes to sell the Meteor long-range missile.
In the 1990s, the UAE bought 80 F-16 E/F fighters with distinctive conformal fuel tanks, under a $7.3 billion foreign military sales (FMS) contract, of which a reported$3 billion went to co-developthe Block 60 Desert Falcon, widely viewed as the most capable of the F-16s worldwide. As co-developer, the UAE is co-owner of some of the sensitive military technology on the Block 60 version. As part of the deal, UAE personnel worked on theco-development program, and Lockheed trained Emirati nationals to service the Block60 aircraft.
The 1990s also saw the UAE buy Dassault Mirage 2000-9 fighters, which were more advanced than the 2000-5 version flown by the French Air Force. Older Mirage fighters were also upgraded to the more capable variant.
The Mirage 2000-9 fleet still has a long life ahead of it, but the UAE could start takingdelivery of the new F-16s in under five years while keeping the existing Mirage aircraft, the source said.
France has previously offered to buy back the Mirage fleet and resell the fighters in export markets toencourage the sale of the Rafale to the UAE.
The UAE has purchased the Black Shaheen cruise missile for the Mirage. In long-range strike, the UAE also has the Hakim, which was shown under the wing of a Rafale model displayed on missile manufacturer MBDA's stand atthe IDEX arms show in Abu Dhabi in February.
In the 1990s, the UAE bought 80 F-16 E/F fighters under a $7.3 billion foreign military sales contract.

[Mosamania]

Gotta give it to the Emaratis. When they mean business they mean business. And they Akways go for the best according to their needs and no compromises.

[Loki]

The Arabs should go for 5th generation aircraft. They have the money after all. Won't be too long before the F-16 becomes outdated.

[Mosamania]

The Arabs should go for 5th generation aircraft. They have the money after all. Won't be too long before the F-16 becomes outdated.

It is not as easy as you might think Zabanya. Gone are the days that we would allow Americans to give us restricted and downgraded equipment. or Equipment we are not even allow to change its oil without an approval from the US. Now we buy weapons on our own terms the Americans would only sell us the F-35s if we sign the CISOMA agreement which pretty much make us open targets to America and then we wont be even able to launch an air strike with out their systems buzzing. And that is too high a cost for the F-35. I am angry at Bahrain Qatar and Kuwait for signing the bloody thing which makes it the more harder for the GCC to work together.

And I think the Russian PAK-FA is still open for Saudi participation. And I heared about some talks regarding the J-20. But they are still experimental as of now so it is hard to know if we are involved in these or not.

Zabanya one question. Would you rather we get the F-35s in return for opening our entire network to America?

[Tshering22]

The Arabs should go for 5th generation aircraft. They have the money after all. Won't be too long before the F-16 becomes outdated.

The JSF won't be on offer to Arabs until Israel gets it, learns it and masters it. US policy, remember?

[CallsignAlzaeem]

This is just a political move by emiratis see this line :

''A UAE sale might help Lockheed keep its F-16 assembly line open, after India rejected the U.S. fighter from its short list for the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft competition.''

Just a move to award Lockheed Martin with billion of dollars.If not India then UAE,Thats what all this is about.

[blackops]

It is not as easy as you might think Zabanya. Gone are the days that we would allow Americans to give us restricted and downgraded equipment. or Equipment we are not even allow to change its oil without an approval from the US. Now we buy weapons on our own terms the Americans would only sell us the F-35s if we sign the CISOMA agreement which pretty much make us open targets to America and then we wont be even able to launch an air strike with out their systems buzzing. And that is too high a cost for the F-35. I am angry at Bahrain Qatar and Kuwait for signing the bloody thing which makes it the more harder for the GCC to work together.

And I think the Russian PAK-FA is still open for Saudi participation. And I heared about some talks regarding the J-20. But they are still experimental as of now so it is hard to know if we are involved in these or not.

Zabanya one question. Would you rather we get the F-35s in return for opening our entire network to America?

join us in amca lets see what it turns out to be

[Mosamania]

This is just a political move by emiratis see this line :

''A UAE sale might help Lockheed keep its F-16 assembly line open, after India rejected the U.S. fighter from its short list for the Medium Multirole Combat Aircraft competition.''

Just a move to award Lockheed Martin with billion of dollars.If not India then UAE,Thats what all this is about.

Actually mr.Alzaeem I think the emaratis are pressuring the French to lower the price they set up they put the Rafale for the UAE at 100 million while for India at 67 Million so the Emaratis are pisst at this.

[Mosamania]

join us in amca lets see what it turns out to be

Who knows what the future will unfold.

[silko]

Actually mr.Alzaeem I think the emaratis are pressuring the French to lower the price they set up they put the Rafale for the UAE at 100 million while for India at 67 Million so the Emaratis are pisst at this.

they know how to take advantage of their oil money, and beside doesnt france have a military base in u.a.e? just shut it down if they dont

[Mo12]

Why is UAE buying these new planes, when they are 10 different better planes they could get?

[Mosamania]

Why is Saudi Arabia buying these new planes, when they are 10 different better planes they could get?

UAE = United Arab Emirates......

[Mosamania]

they know how to take advantage of their oil money, and beside doesnt france have a military base in u.a.e? just shut it down if they dont

I wish they would. But I think they put it there to make sure Iran doesn't test its new fancy missiles on Burj khalifa

[Mo12]

UAE = United Arab Emirates......

Sorry edited.

[SpArK]

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American diplomacy wins again.