UAVs, F-35 Deals in Focus for Upcoming Dubai Airshow Written 12 November 2021

CNBC reports, “Cutting-edge technologies and geopolitics are set to feature in military deals at this year’s Dubai Air Show. And some weapons sales – or lack thereof – are major sticking points for both the U.S. and its Gulf allies, in particular the United Arab Emirates. Fighter jet fleet upgrades and new counter-UAS (unmanned aerial systems) technologies are likely to be major themes at the industry show, especially considering the rise in drone attacks around the region in recent years.” However, “many eyes will be on whether prior agreements made under the Trump administration to sell certain U.S. weapons systems to the UAE will actually come through.” The sales in questions are of the “F-35 II joint strike fighter jet and the General Atomics MQ-9 Reaper drone, which, if completed, would mark the first sale of the F-35 and U.S.-made armed drones to any Arab country.”
Full Story (CNBC)