United Arab Emirates Embassy in Washington, DC Statement on Letters of Agreement for UAE Defense Package

January 21, 2021 – On Tuesday, the United Arab Emirates finalized letters of agreement (LOAs) with the US Government for the acquisition of F-35 Joint Strike Fighter aircraft and other defense equipment, as previously announced. The LOAs confirm the terms of the UAE purchase, including costs, technical specifications and anticipated delivery schedules.  

The overall value of the contracts is estimated at $23 billion This includes as many as 50 F-35A fighters valued at $10.4 billion, 18 MQ-9B drones valued at $2.97 billion, and various munitions valued at $10 billion. In December, the US Senate rejected an attempt to block the sales.  

The UAE is committed to de-escalation and a new regional dialogue. This latest defense package confirms the UAE-US partnership by enhancing military interoperability to counter evolving regional threats. It is consistent with the bipartisan US National Defense Strategy of enabling partners to take on more responsibility for their own and collective security in the Middle East.