UAE WELCOMES FIRST BATCH OF F-16 BLOCK 60'S

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001983

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: MASS PREL TC
SUBJECT: UAE WELCOMES FIRST BATCH OF F-16 BLOCK 60'S


1. (U) The UAE welcomed home the first installment of F-16
Block 60 combat aircraft during a May 3 ceremony that
featured a precision fly-by before a crowd of several hundred
dignitaries assembled at Al Dhafra Air Base. Abu Dhabi Crown
Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces
General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, several of his
brothers, UAE Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. General Hamad
Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithy, UAE Air Force and Air Defense
Commander Major General Khalid Abdullah Al Buainnain, U.S.
Air Force Vice Chief of Staff General T. Michael "Buzz"
Moseley, CENTAF Commander Lt. General Walter Buchanan,
Director of Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Lt. General
Jeffrey Kohler, Lockheed-Martin, Northrop Grumman, and
General Electric officials, and the Ambassador were on hand
to witness the first aircraft to touch down at 5:12 p.m.
local time. The delivery of 10 F-16s is part of the $6.4
billion contract signed between the UAE and Lockheed-Martin
in 2000 to supply the UAE with 80 of the advanced aircraft.
The next four aircraft are scheduled for delivery in June
with the remainder scheduled to arrive in monthly
installments over the next three years.


2. (U) The F-16 Block 60 aircraft ) nicknamed "Desert
Falcon" - are the jewel in the crown of UAE's Air Force and
Air Defense program. In his remarks at the delivery
ceremony, Major General Khalid said the F-16 Block 60 program
is part of the UAE's efforts to modernize its armed forces
and upgrade its defense capabilities. He cited the UAE's
command and control upgrade project, its air defense system
development, and the Gulf Air Warfare Center's role in
improving interoperability between the air forces of the UAE,
the U.S., and other European and Gulf nations. He
underscored the importance of cooperation, noting the UAE's
participation in operations with coalition countries and
allies. He also spoke about the F-16's role in enforcing
security in the Gulf region.


3. (U) Khalid noted that discussions between the U.S. and the
UAE over improving the UAE's air force capability began 20
years ago. The F-16 aircraft were selected over other strong
competitors because the F-16's ability to achieve a swift and
decisive air superiority in combat situations.
SISON