U.S. announces potential $304 million weapons package to UAE

The Obama administration announced the potential sale Wednesday of a $304 million weapons package to the United Arab Emirates that includes 600 2,000-pound “bunker-buster” bombs.

In all, the sale includes 4,900 guided bombs to the UAE. The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the sale Wednesday, a required step before it can be finalized.

Boeing and McAlester Army Ammunition Plant are the prime contractors for the weapons package, according to the release announcing the potential sale.

The bombs package, which was first reported earlier this month by the Wall Street Journal, would supply weapons to an ally in the Middle East as the U.S. looks to stop Iran’s nuclear ambitions. U.S. troops are stationed at Al Dhafra Air base in the UAE.

The defense agency’s release said that the weapons will “improve the UAE’s capability to meet current and future regional threats” by giving the country “one of the most capable air forces in the region, thereby serving U.S. interests by deterring regional aggression.”

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