US approves USD31.2 billion of fighter sales to Qatar.

[Baybars Han]

Has there ever been an arms sale bigger?

Yes, to Saudi Arabia. Cant remember exact figures but it was more.

 

[SBD-3]

"Free" top grade weapon systems are the payment buddy, also an unsinkable aircraft carrier in the Middle East.

Yeah American platforms are filled with Israeli tech. Its just like paying pennies in kind to get top dollar gear for free.

 

[FalconsForPeace]

First thing that Trump needs to stop is giving free American money to Israelis for killing unarmed civilians.

 

[hussain0216]

While it is a lucrative business, from an ethical point of view it is wrong to support countries that infringe on human rights.

A bit late after killing and affecting millions in dodgy wars for the last 70 years to become ethical? and now you have Trump

 

[SBD-3]

I don't think terrorist will be able to fly them. I just think we should distance ourselves from the gulf states.

That's the right approach but then question is that to whom would you sell your weaponry?

 

[xyxmt]

Jub tuk dunya me chutia hain aqal mand rich se rich hota jaye ga

 

[A.P. Richelieu]

Qatar has requested 72 of the latest variant Advanced Eagle, which features increased weapon stations, modern systems, and an AESA radar. Source: Boeing
The US State Department has cleared long-delayed fighter aircraft sales to the Middle East valued at USD31.2 billion.

Two notifications posted on the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) website on 17 November announced the approval of 40 Boeing F/A-18E/F Super Hornets for Kuwait and 72 Boeing F-15 Advanced Eagles for Qatar, valued at USD10.1 billion and USD21.1 billion respectively. Both sales were requested some years ago, but had reportedly been held up owing to concerns raised by Israel.


The Kuwaiti sale covers 32 single-seat F/A-18E and eight twin-seat F/A-18F aircraft, as well as 12 Lockheed Martin AN/AAQ-33 Sniper pods, 48 Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing Systems (JHMCS), and other equipment and support. Kuwait is the first customer to request an element of Boeing's International Roadmap upgrade for the Super Hornet, with the notification also listing eight conformal fuel tanks for four of its aircraft.

Once in service, the F/A-18E/Fs will initially augment the Kuwait Air Force's current 39 Boeing F/A-18C/D Hornets and the 28 yet-to-be delivered Eurofighter Typhoons, before eventually replacing the legacy Hornets.

The Qatari sale covers 72 F-15QA (Qatar Advanced) Eagles as well as weapons and related support equipment. Lead-in fighter training in the United States is also included. The Advanced Eagle is the latest variant of the Boeing-made fighter that has also been ordered by Saudi Arabia as the F-15SA. This variant improves on previous models in that it features two additional underwing weapons stations (increasing the number from nine to 11); the option of a large area display cockpit; fly-by-wire controls; and the Raytheon APG-63(V)3 active electronically scanned array (AESA) radar.

Along with 24 Dassault Rafales that were ordered in May 2015, in Qatar Emiri Air Force service the F-15QAs will replace the service's current 12 Dassault Mirage 2000-5 fighters.

The DSCA notifications represent the total number of fighters that the State Department has approved, and are not necessarily the number that each nation will procure (Qatar, for example, has already had a portion of its total 72-aircraft requirement satisfied with the Rafale).

Finally proof that Washington is not doing anything without approval of the Jewish lobby,
as if the Iran deal was not sufficient...

 

[graphican]

American under TRUMP would be militarily aggressive towards the middle east. No country in Arab League should spend buying their hardware. When you are prepared to buy, look towards Russia, China or even European suppliers.

Jews in Israel would be looking to demolish Masjid-e-Aqsa within next few years, and before that, every capable middle eastern Muslim country either needs to be destroyed or incapacitated. By buying American hardware, you are choosing to be incapacitated if not destroyed.

 

[volatile]

Trump is against Arab oil and money.

He is a businessman he loves Arab money not sure about Oil as US is now among leading oil producers .

 

[jamal18]

I am not sure how 'anti-Arab' is Trump.

There is a strong trend among the right in America who realize that they have been 'had', fighting wars for other people ( Israel). They understand that America is basically bankrupting itself. The cost of the Iraq and Afghan wars is $5 trillion; in context the annual budget of the American government is $1 trillion.

Withdrawing from these forays, and spending less on overseas deployment is the way to go.

Incidentally, America cannot spend more on defense. Its an accounting impossibility.

 

[DavidSling]

The deal also includes
12. JHMCS is a modified HGU-55/P helmet that incorporates a visor-projected Heads Up Display to cue weapons and aircraft sensors to air and ground targets. This system projects visual targeting and aircraft performance information on the back of the helmet's visor, enabling the pilot to monitor this information without interrupting his field of view through the cockpit canopy. This provides improvement for close combat targeting and engagement. Hardware is UNCLASSIFIED.

Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS)
The Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) is a product of RCEVS, a joint venture between Elbit Systems and Rockwell Collins.

The JHMCS provides the pilot with “first look, first shoot” high off-boresight weapons engagement capabilities. The system, also available in a night configuration, enables the pilot to accurately cue onboard weapons and sensors against enemy aircraft and ground targets without the need to aggressively turn the aircraft or place the target in the Head-Up Display (HUD) for designation.

Critical information and symbology such as targeting cues and aircraft performance parameters are graphically displayed directly on the pilot’s visor. Through RCEVS, most frontline U.S. fighters (F-16, F/A-18 and F-15) are being equipped with the JHMCS, which are currently operationally proven in over 20 air forces worldwide.

Israeli tech in the hand of Qatar?

 

[SQ8]

The deal also includes
12. JHMCS is a modified HGU-55/P helmet that incorporates a visor-projected Heads Up Display to cue weapons and aircraft sensors to air and ground targets. This system projects visual targeting and aircraft performance information on the back of the helmet's visor, enabling the pilot to monitor this information without interrupting his field of view through the cockpit canopy. This provides improvement for close combat targeting and engagement. Hardware is UNCLASSIFIED.

Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS)
The Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS) is a product of RCEVS, a joint venture between Elbit Systems and Rockwell Collins.

The JHMCS provides the pilot with “first look, first shoot” high off-boresight weapons engagement capabilities. The system, also available in a night configuration, enables the pilot to accurately cue onboard weapons and sensors against enemy aircraft and ground targets without the need to aggressively turn the aircraft or place the target in the Head-Up Display (HUD) for designation.

Critical information and symbology such as targeting cues and aircraft performance parameters are graphically displayed directly on the pilot’s visor. Through RCEVS, most frontline U.S. fighters (F-16, F/A-18 and F-15) are being equipped with the JHMCS, which are currently operationally proven in over 20 air forces worldwide.

Israeli tech in the hand of Qatar?

Israeli tech has been everywhere. Lets not be sanctimonious in our approach. Israeli tech was in the F-15s that went to Saudia, Israeli tech was in various Radar systems that went to these countries; and during the sanction periods, Israeli companies by the way of Jordan were crucial in supporting Pakistani F-16s and early UAV programs.