U.S. is considering to sell F-35 stealth fighter aicraft to United Arab Emirates.

According to U.S. media information published on August 19, 2020, the United States is considering supplying F-35 stealth fighter aircraft to the United Arab Emirates. During a press conference at the White House, U.S. President Donald Trump has announced that the United Arab Emirates had expressed interest in buying “quite a few” of the stealth fighter jets.

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A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II from Luke Air Force Base, Ariz., takes off from Dover AFB, Del., February 19, 2020.(Picture source U.S. Air Force)

The United Arab Emirates requested information about a possible sale of F-35s in 2010, however, the United States delayed responding for months. The United States continued to decline requests by the Gulf States including the United Arab Emirates until as late as 2015.

In early November 2017, the Trump administration agreed to consider the continued request by the United Arab Emirates for preliminary talks concerning the potential sale of the F-35. Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Air Force Stephen W. Wilson confirmed on 11 November that preliminary talks were taking place with regional partner nations, later adding that included the United Arab Emirates.

The potential sale of the F-35 to the United Arab Emirates raised concerns about maintaining Israel's Qualitative Military Edge, a policy also enshrined in U.S. law. Additional skepticism was raised by senior US Air Force and Central Command personnel concerning the United Arab Emirates Air Force's plan to also jointly develop and procure a fifth-generation combat aircraft with Russia.

In November 2019 at the Dubai Air Show, U.S. officials denied that the United Arab Emirates was a potential export nation. U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs R. Clarke Cooper stated that "The question (of) are there any considerations or conversations about the F-35 [With the UAE], the short answer is no.", adding "we have been working with them and continue to work with them on upgrading, expanding their F-16 capability and upgrading and expanding their F-16 posture, so that is where we are.

The F-35 Lightning II is an American family of single-seat, single-engine, all-weather stealth multirole combat aircraft designed and manufactured by the American company Lockheed Martin. The F-35 is today is the most popular stealth fighter aircraft in service with 15 countries from all over the world.