WASHINGTON — As US allies in the Middle East fend off Iranian missile and drone strikes, the US today announced a slew of potential “emergency” Foreign Military Sales for high-dollar equipment that could replace munitions and systems used in the fight.
In a series of notices posted online, the State Department said it’s ready to greenlight deals including $8 billion-worth of Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor radars and associated equipment for Kuwait. The United Arab Emirates could see a $4.5 billion deal for a long-range radar and other equipment to work with Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) systems, $2.1 billion in counter-drone systems, $1.2 billion in air-to-air missiles and $644 million-worth of F-16 munitions and upgrades. Jordan, meanwhile, could get $70.5 million in aircraft repair work and spare parts.
RELATED: Gulf nations ‘trying to reach out’ for Ukrainian counter-drone capability
In language echoed in the other notices, the State Department said that for the radar sale to Kuwait, “The Secretary of State has determined and provided detailed justification that an emergency exists that requires the immediate sale to Kuwait of the above defense articles and defense services is in the national security interests of the United States,” and was “thereby waiving” congressional review requirements.
Each Middle Eastern nation has been targeted by Iranian strikes since the US and Israel launched large-scale military operations against Tehran last month. In Kuwait, six American soldiers were killed in a drone strike on a US command center there. The UAE has seen a disproportionate number of Iranian attacks, engaging seven missiles and 15 unmanned aerial vehicles just today, according to its Ministry of Defense.
