The US Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the United Arab Emirates of air-to-surface missiles, additional Javelin anti-tank missiles, RQ-21A Blackjack small tactical unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), and United States Marine Corps (USMC) training that are together estimated to be worth nearly USD1.2 billion. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency delivered the required certification notifying Congress of this possible sale on May 24, 2019. By far the largest deal outlined in the four DSCA notifications was for the Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS). Estimated to be worth USD900 million, it covers 20,004 all-up rounds, meaning it will include the rocket motors and warheads as well as guidance kits.
The BAE Systems Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) is an add-on semi-active laser guidance kit for 70 mm air-to-surface rockets. . APKWS will complement the Hellfire II missile as a secondary precision munition with lower collateral damage potential. Suggesting the plan is to replace the Talon on the UAE’s Apaches, armed Black Hawks, and possibly its Bell/Northstar 407 MRH helicopters. The UAE currently uses the rival Cirit and Talon weapons. The Turkish-made Cirit would be used with the UAE’s Air Tractor-derived strike aircraft. The UAE also use Talon guidance kit, making it the only user of a weapon that it jointly developed with Raytheon. Talons have been seen in rocket pods carried by Emirati AH-64 Apache and UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters operating in Yemen.
The Government of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) has requested to buy three hundred thirty-one (331) Javelin Guided Missiles with container. Also included are System Integration & Checkout (SICO) service; Field Service Representative; U.S. Government and contractor technical, engineering and logistics support services’ tools and test equipment; support equipment; publications and technical documentation; spare and repair parts; and other related elements of logistics and program support. The estimated total case value is $102 million.
The State Department has made a determination approving a possible Foreign Military Sale to the United Arab Emirates of RQ-21A Blackjack Unmanned Air Vehicles with support for an estimated cost of $80 million. The Government of the UAE has requested to buy twenty (20) RQ-21A Blackjack Unmanned Air Vehicles (UAVs). Also included are forty (40) Global Positioning Systems (GPS) with Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) Type II (MPE-S); air vehicle support equipment including eight (8) Ground Control Stations (GCS), four (4) launchers, and four (4) retrievers; spare and repair parts; publications; training; and technical support services.
