Asia-Pacific

UAE seeks $100 million in support for F-16 fleet

(Agencies)
Updated: 2011-05-30 17:12

A Belgian Air Force F16 fighter aircraft, taking part in the offensive in Libya, lands at Araxos airbase, Greece March 28, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

DUBAI - The US Defense Department says the United Arab Emirates is seeking $100 million worth of supplies and maintenance services for its fleet of F-16 fighters.

The Pentagon's Defense Security Cooperation Agency said in a statement posted last week it notified Congress of the sale May 24.

It says the proposed deal would include a range of classified and unclassified equipment, munitions, spare parts as well as training and ground support. It calls the UAE "an important force for peace, political stability, and economic progress in the Middle East."

The UAE in March deployed six of its F-16s to help enforce the NATO-led no-fly zone over Libya. One of those planes crashed on landing at an air base in southern Italy last month.