The State Department approved a possible $75 million Foreign Military Sales (FMS) request to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for exercise participation support.

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) notified Congress of the potential sale on Oct. 21.

Seal of DSCA. Image: U.S. Department of Defense.
Seal of DSCA. Image: U.S. Department of Defense.

The sale would include participation in military exercises, aerial refueling, airlift and ferry support, training aids/devices/munitions, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistical and program support.

The agency said this FMS would help improve the ability of the UAE to employ its fighter aircraft in a multi-country coalition environment, including such exercises as Red Flag and Green Flag.

DSCA highlighted that participating in major exercises has previously enhanced the UAE’s continued and consistent role in support of coalition operations and the country is a “steadfast coalition partner in the fight against radical Islamic forces such as ISIL and Al Qaeda (AQAP) in the Arabian Peninsula.”

Implementation of the sale would not require the assignment of any additional U.S. government or contractor representatives to the UAE.