UAE Increases F-16E/F Requirement

摘要

The United Arab Emirates has raised its requirement to purchase additional F-16E/F Desert Falcons from 25 to 30 aircraft. The move was confirmed on January 23, when the US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of a possible Foreign Military Sale (FMS) to the UAE of equipment in support of a direct commercial sale of 30 F-16 Block 61 aircraft. The existing UAE aircraft are F-16E/F Block 60s and the DSCAs reference to a Block 61 indicates a further upgraded variant, although no details of the enhancements have been made public. The UAE has previously taken delivery of 80 F-16E/F Block 60 Desert Falcons (55 F-16Es and 25 F-16Fs), later supplemented by one additional attrition replacement F-16E. The DSCA notification also includes upgrades to these existing aircraft.