WASHINGTON, Aug. 5 (UPI) -- The United Arab Emirates has asked to buy U.S.-made missiles and warning systems, a U.S. Department of Defense agency said.
The Defense Security Cooperation Agency, a Pentagon group that promotes military-to-military contacts and transfer of defense materiel to U.S. allies, has formally informed the U.S. Congress of the possible sale.
A release from DSCA said the United Arab Emirates was seeking 362 Hellfire missiles, common missile warning systems, radar-warning receivers along with equipment and services those devices demand. The estimated cost of the deal is $526 million.
DSCA said the sale would "contribute to the foreign policy and national security of the United States by helping to improve the security of a friendly country that has been and continues to be an important force for political stability and economic progress in the Middle East."
It also said the deployment of the missiles and systems wouldn't alter the military balance of the region and the proposed sale wouldn't affect U.S. defense readiness.
The Defense Department said that, with the additional weapons system, United Arab Emirates aircraft would be able to assist the United States' overseas operations.
"The support equipment will strengthen the effectiveness and interoperability of a potential coalition partner, reduce the dependence on U.S. forces in the region, and enhance any coalition operations the (United States) may undertake," the DSCA release stated. "The United Arab Emirates will have no difficulty absorbing this support into its armed forces."
The Hellfire missile was developed in the 1970s as a weapon to be fired from helicopters against armored vehicles. The AGM-114N versions requested by the United Arab Emirates are designed to be used against enclosed targets and air defense units and can be fired from air, sea or ground platforms, missile manufacturer Lockheed Martin said in a product description. It has a range of about 8,800 yards and can be armed with thermobaric warheads.
The proposed sale includes AN/AAR-57 common missile warning systems made by BAE. Those devices provide aircraft operators with warnings against infrared and radar-guided missiles.
Additional equipment in the proposed sale includes radios, transponders and Doppler radar.
DSCA said if the purchase is finalized, the principal contractors would be Science and Engineering Services, Inc., BAE and Northrop Grumman, all in Maryland; Lockheed Martin departments in Florida and New York; L3 Corporation in Massachusetts; and Boeing Aircraft in Arizona.
The United Arab Emirates late last year agreed to buy a $3.3 billion Patriot missile defense system from U.S. company Raytheon and in February at the International Defense Exhibition and Conference in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates officials announced contracts for military materiel worth about $5 billion.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute ranks the United Arab Emirates as third in the world in foreign military goods procurement, with only China and India buying more foreign military products from 2004-08.
