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