US embassy cable - 05ABUDHABI1983

UNCLAS ABU DHABI 001983 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: MASS, PREL, TC 
SUBJECT: UAE WELCOMES FIRST BATCH OF F-16 BLOCK 60'S 
 
1. (U) The UAE welcomed home the first installment of F-16 
Block 60 combat aircraft during a May 3 ceremony that 
featured a precision fly-by before a crowd of several hundred 
dignitaries assembled at Al Dhafra Air Base.  Abu Dhabi Crown 
Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces 
General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, several of his 
brothers, UAE Armed Forces Chief of Staff Lt. General Hamad 
Mohammed Thani Al Rumaithy, UAE Air Force and Air Defense 
Commander Major General Khalid Abdullah Al Buainnain, U.S. 
Air Force Vice Chief of Staff General T. Michael "Buzz" 
Moseley, CENTAF Commander Lt. General Walter Buchanan, 
Director of Defense Security Cooperation Agency, Lt. General 
Jeffrey Kohler, Lockheed-Martin, Northrop Grumman, and 
General Electric officials, and the Ambassador were on hand 
to witness the first aircraft to touch down at 5:12 p.m. 
local time.  The delivery of 10 F-16s is part of the $6.4 
billion contract signed between the UAE and Lockheed-Martin 
in 2000 to supply the UAE with 80 of the advanced aircraft. 
The next four aircraft are scheduled for delivery in June 
with the remainder scheduled to arrive in monthly 
installments over the next three years. 
 
2. (U) The F-16 Block 60 aircraft ) nicknamed "Desert 
Falcon" - are the jewel in the crown of UAE's Air Force and 
Air Defense program.  In his remarks at the delivery 
ceremony, Major General Khalid said the F-16 Block 60 program 
is part of the UAE's efforts to modernize its armed forces 
and upgrade its defense capabilities.  He cited the UAE's 
command and control upgrade project, its air defense system 
development, and the Gulf Air Warfare Center's role in 
improving interoperability between the air forces of the UAE, 
the U.S., and other European and Gulf nations.  He 
underscored the importance of cooperation, noting the UAE's 
participation in operations with coalition countries and 
allies.  He also spoke about the F-16's role in enforcing 
security in the Gulf region. 
 
3. (U) Khalid noted that discussions between the U.S. and the 
UAE over improving the UAE's air force capability began 20 
years ago.  The F-16 aircraft were selected over other strong 
competitors because the F-16's ability to achieve a swift and 
decisive air superiority in combat situations. 
SISON